but not for us. I say you shall not touch her
till I am dead at her feet. Now, do your worst."

At this moment two policemen who had been searching the loft descended
with Maclast who had vainly attempted to effect his escape over a
neighbouring roof; the thickset man was already secured; and Wilkins had
been pulled down the chimney and made his appearance in as grimy a state
as such a shelter would naturally have occasioned. The young man too,
their first prisoner who had been captured before they had entered the
room, was also brought in; there was now abundance of light; the four
prisoners were ranged and well guarded at the end of the apartment;
Gerard standing before Sybil still maintained his position of defence,
and the serjeant was, a few yards away, in his front with his pistol in
his hand.

"Well you are a queer chap," said the serjeant; "but I must do my duty.
I shall give orders to my men to seize you, and if you resist them, I
shall shoot you through the head."

"Stop!" called out one of the prisoners, the young man who drew
proclamations, "she moves. Do with us as you think fit, but you cannot
be so harsh as to seize one that is senseless, and a woman!"

"I must do my duty," said the serjeant rather perplexed at the
situation. "Well, if you like, take steps to restore her, and when she
has come to herself, she shall be moved in a hackney coach alone with
her father."

The means at hand to recover Sybil were rude, but they assisted a
reviving nature. She breathed, she sighed, slowly opened her beautiful
dark eyes, and looked around. Her father held her death-cold hand; she
returned his pressure: her lips moved, and still she murmured "fly!"

Gerard looked at the serjeant. "I am ready," he said, "and I will carry
her." The officer nodded assent. Guarded by two policemen the tall
delegate of Mowbray bore his precious burthen out of the chamber through
the yard, the printing-offices, up the alley, till a hackney coach
received them in Hunt Street, round which a mob had already collected,
though kept at a discreet distance by the police. One officer entered
the coach with them: another mounted the box. Two other coaches carried
the rest of the prisoners and their guards, and within halt an hour from
the arrival of Sybil at the scene of the secret meeting, she was on her
way to Bow Street to be examined as a prisoner of state.

Sybil rallied quickly during their progress to the police office.
Satisfied t