way. But why he ran from me, I cannot imagine.

"He was a little jealous, a little sulky, and somewhat fearful of being
blamed, I suppose. But tell me, Pendleton, has our flight been
discovered yet?" inquired Mr. Berners, anxiously.

"No, nor even suspected; at least, not up to the time that I left Black
Hall. Mrs. Berners was supposed to be in her chamber. I warned all the
men, and requested my sister to caution all the women, against knocking
at her door."

"And I, who must have been expected to be on the spot?" asked Lyon.

"You were often asked for. Fortunately for you, there is a well-known
weakness in human nature to pretend to know all about everything that
may be inquired into. And so, every time you chanced to be inquired for
by one party, you were accounted for by another. Some said you were with
Mrs. Berners; others that you had gone to Blackville on pressing
business connected with the tragedy. And these last authorities came to
be believed; so that when I slipped away I left the people momentarily
expecting your return."

"Whom did you leave there?"

"Everybody--the coroner's jury and all the guests of the house, who had
been detained as witnesses."

"Then all our friends heard the fatal verdict?"

"All."

"Was there--a warrant issued?" gasped Lyon Berners, scarcely able to
utter the words.

"Ah, yes; the issue of the warrant was the first intimation I had of the
fatal nature of the verdict. It was put in the hands of an officer, with
orders to be on the watch and serve it as soon as Mrs. Berners should
come out of her chamber, but not to knock at the door, or molest her
while she remained in it."

Lyon Berners groaned deeply, and buried his face in his hands.

"Come, come! bear up, that you may sustain _her_!" said Captain
Pendleton. "And now listen: Your flight, as I told you, was not
suspected up to the time I left Black Hall. It will not be discovered
probably until late this evening, when it will be too late for the
authorities to take any immediate measures of pursuit. We have,
therefore, this afternoon and to-night to perfect our plans. Only you
need to bring steady nerves and a clear head to the task."

"What do you suggest, Pendleton?"

"First of all, that during this night, which is ours, all necessary
conveniences be brought here to support your life for a few days, for
you must not leave this safe refuge immediately--to do so would be to
fall into the hands of the law."

"I