The Verdict and the Visitor

Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer cloud
Without our special wonder?--Shakespeare.

"Pendleton! oh! Heaven, Pendleton! What news?" exclaimed Lyon Berners,
starting up to greet him.

"Good heaven! Berners! How is this? Another--a servant taken into your
confidence, and trusted with the secret of your retreat!" cried Captain
Pendleton in dismay.

"He is trustworthy! I will vouch for his fidelity! But oh! Pendleton!
What news? what news?" exclaimed Lyon Berners in an agony of impatience.

"The worst that you can anticipate!" cried Captain Pendleton in a voice
full of sorrow.

"Oh! my unhappy wife! The coroner's jury have found their verdict then?"
groaned Lyon.

Captain Pendleton bowed his head. He was unable to reply in words.

"And that verdict is--Oh! speak I let me hear the worst!--that verdict
is--"

"Wilful Murder!" muttered Pendleton in a hoarse and choking voice.

"Against--against--whom?" gasped Lyon Berners white as death.

"Oh Heaven! You know! Do not ask me to sully her name with the words!"
cried Captain Pendleton, utterly overcome by his emotions.

"Oh, my unhappy wife! Oh, my lost Sybil!" exclaimed Lyon Berners,
reeling under the blow, half-expected though it might have been.

There was silence for a few minutes. Pendleton was the first to recover
himself. He went up to his friend, touched him on the shoulder, and
said: "Berners, rouse yourself; the position requires the exertion of your
utmost powers of mind and body. Calm yourself, and collect all your
faculties. Come now let us sit down here and talk over the situation."