ched as well as her heart; she had herself suggested
that they ought to soften the rigour of the fair prisoner's lot; and the
inspector therefore almost anticipated the request of Gerard. He begged
Sybil to accompany him to his better half, and at once promised all the
comforts and convenience which they could command. As, attended by the
inspector, she took her way to the apartments of his family, they passed
through a room in which there were writing materials, and Sybil speaking
for the first time and in a faint voice enquired of the inspector
whether it were permitted to apprise a friend of her situation. She was
answered in the affirmative, on condition that the note was previously
perused by him.

"I will write it at once," she said, and taking up a pen she inscribed
these words,

"I followed your counsel; I entreated him to quit London this night. He
pledged himself to do so on the morrow.

"I learnt he was attending a secret meeting; that there was urgent
peril. I tracked him through scenes of terror. Alas! I arrived only in
time to be myself seized as a conspirator, and I have been arrested and
carried a prisoner to Bow Street, where I write this.

"I ask you not to interfere for him: that would be vain; but if I were
free, I might at least secure him justice. But I am not free: I am to be
brought up for public examination to-morrow, if I survive this night.

"You are powerful; you know all; you know what I say is truth. None else
will credit it. Save me!"

"And now," said Sybil to the inspector in a tone of mournful desolation
and of mild sweetness, "all depends on your faith to me," and she
extended him the letter, which he read.

"Whoever he may be and wherever he may be," said the inspector with
emotion, for the spirit of Sybil had already controlled his nature,
"provided the person to whom this letter is addressed is within possible
distance, fear not it shall reach him."

"I will seal and address it then," said Sybil, and she addressed the
letter to

"THE HON. CHARLES EGREMONT M.P."

adding that superscription the sight of which had so agitated Egremont
at Deloraine House.

Book 5 Chapter 9

Night waned: and Sybil was at length slumbering. The cold that precedes
the dawn had stolen over her senses, and calmed the excitement of her
nerves. She was lying on the ground, covered with a cloak of which
her kind hostess had prevailed on her to avail herself, and was partly
resting on a