Part 22 (1/2)
”Yes, after all that! And yet I thank you all the same. I thank you all, that you have set me at liberty, and by so doing have given me the opportunity of voluntarily delivering myself up.”
”Just as if Captain Inconnu would let you do it. I tell you he has his own reasons for saving your life,” angrily retorted the girl.
”And I have my reasons for risking my life upon the bare chance of rescuing my good name,” said Sybil, firmly; ”and your captain would scarcely detain me here as a captive, against my will,” she added, smiling strangely.
”Well, may be he would, and may be he wouldn't! but here he comes, and you can ask him,” said the girl, as the galloping of a horse's feet was heard in the front yard.
A moment pa.s.sed, and then the robber chief, with three or four of his men, entered the room, bringing with them the mail bags and other booty taken from the stage-coach.
”Good-evening, Mrs. Berners! You are welcome back among your devoted slaves!” was the greeting of Captain Inconnu, as half in deference, half in mockery, he raised his cap and bowed low before the lady.
For an instant Sybil was dumb before the speaker, but she soon recovered her self-possession and said:
”I ought to thank you for your gallantry in rescuing me from the custody of those rude men; especially as the freedom you have given me affords me the opportunity of voluntarily doing that which I should not like to be forced into doing.”
Captain Inconnu bowed in silence, and in some perplexity, and then he said,
”I am not sure that I understand you, madam, as to what you would do.”
”I would go freely before a court of justice, instead of being forced thither,” explained Sybil.
”I trust you would never commit such a suicidal act!” exclaimed the captain, in consternation.
”Yes, I would, and I will. I care nothing for my life! I have lost all that makes life worth the living! All is gone but my true honor--for its mere semblance has gone with everything else. I would preserve that true honor! I would place myself on trial, and trust in my innocence, and in the help of Providence,” said Sybil, speaking with a stoical firmness wonderful to see in one so young.
Captain Inconnu, who had listened in silence, with his eyes fixed upon the ground, now lifted them to her face and replied:
”Sleep on this resolution before you act, Mrs. Berners; and to-morrow we will talk further on this subject.”
”I must of necessity sleep on it before acting,” said Sybil, with a dreary smile, ”since nothing can be done to-night; but also I must tell you that nothing can change my resolution.”
”Thus let it stand over until to-morrow,” replied the captain. Then with a total change of tone and manner, he turned to Gentiliska and said:
”Now let us have supper, my little princess, and afterwards we will open the mail bags and see what they have brought us.”
Gentiliska clapped her hands together, to summon the old woman of the band, who quickly made her appearance at the door.
”Supper immediately, Hecate!” said the girl.
The woman nodded and withdrew. And in a few moments she reappeared and summoned them in to the evening meal.
The supper was served in the rudest possible fas.h.i.+on. There was neither table nor chairs. A fine table-cloth not too clean was spread upon the floor, and on it were arranged a few plain articles of food such as could be quickly prepared.
”You will excuse our imperfect housekeeping, I hope, Mrs. Berners. The fact is we have just moved in, and have not got quite comfortably settled yet,” laughed the captain as he folded his own cloak as a seat for Sybil, and led her up and placed her on it, and sat himself down by her side.
Other members of the band joined them at the meal, and Captain Inconnu and Gentiliska did the honors.
Fortunately there was nothing stronger than wine set before the men, and not much of that; and upon those who had been accustomed to strong brandy, and a great deal of it, this lighter beverage had but little effect. So, to Sybil's great relief, she perceived that they continued sober to the end of their repast.
”Come in now, and let us take a look at the contents of the mail bags!