am glad of that, at all events, Clement, since it gives you a sure
clue to the recovery of your stolen goods," suggested Mr. Berners.

"A clue that I shall not now follow, as to do so might seriously
compromise the safety of Mrs. Berners. Our first care must be for her,"
answered Captain Pendleton.

"Always thoughtful, always magnanimous, dear friend," warmly exclaimed
Lyon Berners, while Sybil eloquently looked her gratitude.

At that moment there was heard a low tap at the door, and a low voice
saying:

"It's only me, Marse Clem, with the breakfast things."

The captain stepped to the door, unlocked it, and admitted Margy with
the breakfast tray, and then carefully locked it again.

As the woman drew nearer to Sybil, she began to stare in astonishment
at the India shawl that lady wore around her shoulders.

"You know it, do you, Margy? Well, yes, you are right. It is the
celebrated Pendleton shawl that the captain's great-grandfather brought
away from the palace of the Rajah, at the siege of some unpronounceable
place in Hindostan," smiled Sybil.

"That's it," laughed her host. "My great-grandfather, a captain in the
British army, _stole_ it from the Rajah, and Mr. Inconnu, a captain of
banditti, took it from us!"

But Margy was much too dignified to relish such jokes at the expense of
her master's family, even from her master's lips. She put the tray upon
the stand and arranged the breakfast, all in stately silence.

Captain Pendleton, with old-fashioned hospitality, pressed his guests to
their repast; and so Lyon Berners being propped up with pillows, and
Sybil sitting in the easy-chair, with the stand placed between them, ate
their breakfast together; not forgetting to feed little Nelly, who was
certainly the most famished of the party.

When the breakfast was over, Margy went out with the tray, followed by
Joe.

Mr. and Mrs. Berners being left alone with their host, the captain began
to devise means first for her temporary concealment in the house, and
afterwards for her successful removal to a seaport.

"I confess, Mrs. Berners," began the captain, "that when I saw you enter
this room I was as much alarmed for your safety as astonished at your
appearance. But since your servant has told me, and you have confirmed
his story, that no one recognized you, either on the road or in the
house, until you reached this room, my anxieties are allayed. The
prevalent belief that you perished in the explosion a