dition of the tray.

"Oh, never you mind, Marse Clem, I can go down and fetch up some hot
breakfast, and another cup and sasser, and then may be the master and
missis will take a bit of breakfast here together," put in Margy, as she
lifted the tray to take it from the room.

"Be careful to let no word drop concerning our new visitor," said
Captain Pendleton, as he cautiously locked the door after the woman.

While she was gone on this errand, Sybil told her friends further
details of her life among the mountain robbers; among other matters, she
related the story of Gentiliska Dubarry, at which her hearers were much
surprised.

"I think it is easy to see through this matter," said Lyon Berners,
after a pause; "this robber chief--this Captain Inconnu--this Satan of
the band must be, or rather must have been the husband of Rosa
Blondelle, and most probably her assassin. The motive for all his crimes
seems clear enough. He could never have been a gentleman. He must always
have been an adventurer--a criminal adventurer. He married the beautiful
young Scotch widow for her money, and having spent it all, and
discovered another heiress in this poor vagrant girl, he put Rosa out of
the way, that he might be free to marry another fortune.

"No devil is so bad, however, but that there is a speck of good about
him somewhere; and this adventurer, gambler, smuggler, robber, murderer
was unwilling that an innocent woman should suffer for his crime;
therefore he had you abducted to prevent you from falling into the hands
of the law."

"I do not know," said Sybil; "but I think that in having me carried off,
he yielded to the threats or persuasions of Gentiliska, who certainly
seemed to know enough of the matter to give her great power over him.
Indeed she hinted as much to me. And she certainly knew of his presence
at my mask ball."

"The daring impudence, the reckless effrontery of that man!" exclaimed
Captain Pendleton, in astonishment and disgust.

"You said, dear Sybil, that he came in the character of Death?" inquired
Mr. Berners.

"Yes," replied his wife, with a shudder.

"Ah, then I do not wonder at that poor woman's great--instinctive
horror--of that mask! I remember now that, every time he approached her,
she shivered as with an ague fit. And yet she could not have suspected
his identity," said Mr. Berners.

Next Sybil spoke of the discovery of the Pendleton plate and jewels in
the possession of the robbers.

"I