A Desperate Venture

"That is all safe," said Purley, casting a glance around. "So I may
leave you two alone here together, where no doubt, you are glad enough
to be. But I'm sorry to say I must turn the key on you; not that I have
any right to lock you up, sir, without your consent; but of course you
will consent to that, for the sake of staying with your wife."

"Of course I will; and thank you for the privilege," answered Mr.
Berners.

"All right then. Good-night to you both," said Purley, closing and
locking the door, and withdrawing the key.

And then he took a farther precaution for the security of his charge, by
ordering a mattress to be brought and laid down before that chamber
door. And there he and his companion stretched themselves to rest like a
pair of watch dogs.

As soon as Sybil found herself alone with her husband, she beckoned him
to that end of the room which was farthest from the door, and when he
was close beside her she whispered in the lowest tone: "Did you observe anything peculiar in the manner of that younger
bailiff?"

"I observed that he tried to attract my particular attention whenever we
happened to be unnoticed for a moment. But as we were so very closely
watched I had no opportunity of asking, or he of telling, what he
meant," said Lyon Berners.

"Then I will tell you all about it. When Mr. Purley went away with you,
and left that young man guarding me, the first thing he did was to make
himself known to me, and to place himself at my service even to the
death!"