The inspector was a kind-hearted man: he lived at the office
and his wife was the housekeeper. He had already given her an
account, an interesting account, of his female prisoner. The
good woman's imagination was touched as well as her heart; she
had herself suggested that they ought to soften the rigour of
the fair prisoner's lot; and the inspector therefore almost
anticipated the request of Gerard. He begged Sybil to
accompany him to his better half, and at once promised all the
comforts and convenience which they could command. As,
attended by the inspector, she took her way to the apartments
of his family, they passed through a room in which there were
writing materials, and Sybil speaking for the first time and
in a faint voice enquired of the inspector whether it were
permitted to apprise a friend of her situation. She was
answered in the affirmative, on condition that the note was
previously perused by him.
"I will write it at once," she said, and taking up a pen she
inscribed these words
"I followed your counsel; I entreated him to quit London this
night. He pledged himself to do so on the morrow.
"I learnt he was attending a secret meeting; that there was
urgent peril.
Pages:
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566