“Believe me, the secret shall be safe in my keeping,” said Montague, tenderly, as he sat down again and drew his chair near to that of Mrs Stuart. “But, alas! I do not see how it is possible for me to help your husband. I will use my utmost influence to mitigate his sentence, but I cannot, I dare not set him free.”
The poor woman sat pale and motionless while the captain said this. She began to perceive that all hope was gone, and felt despair settling down on her heart.
“What will be his doom,” said she, in a husky voice, “if his life is spared?”
“I do not know. At least I am not certain. My knowledge of criminal law is very slight, but I should suppose it would be transportation for—”
Montague hesitated, and could not find it in his heart to add the word “life.”
Without uttering a word Mrs Stuart rose, and, staggering from the room, hastened with a quick unsteady step towards her own cottage.