There was silence between them for a little while, during which Sybil
still sat down upon the flagstones, with her elbows resting on her
knees, and her head bowed upon the palms of her hands; and Lyon stood up
near her with an attitude and expression of grave and sad reflection and
self-control.
At length Sybil spoke: "Oh, Lyon! who could have murdered that poor woman, and brought us into
such a horrible position?"
"My theory of the tragedy is this, dear Sybil: that some robber, during
the confusion of the fancy ball, found an opportunity of entering and
concealing himself in Mrs. Blondelle's room; that his first purpose
might have been simple robbery, but that, being discovered by Mrs.
Blondelle, and being alarmed lest her shrieks should bring the house
upon him and occasion his capture, he impulsively sought to stop her
cries by death; and then that, hearing your swift approach down the
stairs leading into her room, he made his escape through the window."
"But then the windows were all found, as they had been left, fastened,"
objected Sybil.
"But, dearest, you must remember that these windows, having spring
bolts, may be fastened by being pushed to from the outside. It is quite
possible for a robber, escaping through them, to close them in this
manner to conceal his flight."
"That must have been the case in this instance. Everybody must see now
that that was the manner in which the miscreant escaped. Oh, Lyon! I
think we were wrong to have left home."
"No, dear Sybil, we were not. Our only hope is in the discovery of the
real murderer, and that may be a work of time; meanwhile we wish to be
free, even at the price of being called fugitives from justice."
"Lyon, that poor child! If we ever go home again, we must adopt and
educate him."
"We will do so, Sybil."
"For, oh! Lyon, although I am entirely innocent of that most heinous
crime, and entirely incapable of it, yet, when I remember how my rage
burned against that poor woman only an hour before her death, I feel--I
feel as if I were half guilty of it! as if--Heaven pardon me!--I might,
in some moment of madness, have been wholly guilty of it! Lyon, I
shudder at myself!" cried Sybil, growing very pale.
"You should thank Heaven that you have been saved from such mortal sin,
dear wife, and also pray Heaven always to save you from your own fierce
passions," said Mr. Berners, very gravely.
"I have breathed that thanksgiving and that prayer with every breath I
have drawn. And I will continue to do so. But, oh! Lyon, all my
passions, all my sufferings grew out of my great love for you."
"I can well believe it, dear wife. And I myself have not been free from
blame; though in reality your jealousy was very causeless, Sybil."