"They _are_ nice people," repeated Sybil, positively; but Lyon said nothing; he was pale as ashes. The two gentlemen came up and stood before Lyon and Sybil. The elder of the two took off his hat, and bowing gravely, said to Sybil: "You are Mrs. Sybil Berners of Black Hall?" Then all at once an agony of terror took possession of her; her heart sank, her brain reeled, her limbs tottered. "You are Mrs. Sybil Berners of Black Hall?" repeated the stranger, drawing from his pocket a folded paper. "Yes," faltered Sybil, in a dying voice. "Then, Madam, I have a most painful duty to perform. Sybil Berners, you are my prisoner," he said, and he laid his hand upon her shoulder. With an agonizing shriek she sprang from under his hand, and threw herself into the arms of her husband, wildly crying: "Save me, Lyon! Oh! don't let them force me away! Save me, my husband! Save me!" CHAPTER XXXI. THE ARREST. Had it pleased Heaven To try me with affliction; had He rained All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head; Steeped me in poverty to the very lips; I could have found in some part of my soul A drop of patience; but alas, to make me A fixed figure for the time of scorn To point his slow, unmoving finger at!--SHAKESPEARE. "Save me! Oh, save me!" she continued to cry, clinging wildly to her husband's bosom. "Save me from this deep degradation! This degradation worse than death!" And it is certain that if the immediate sacrifice of his own life could have saved her, Lyon Berners would have willingly died for Sybil; or even if the drowning of that law officer could have delivered her, he would have incontinently pitched the man overboard; but as neither of these violent-means could possibly have served her, he could only clasp her closer to his heart, and consider what was to be done. At length he looked up at the sheriff's officer, and said: "I wish to have a word alone with my wife, if you will permit me." The man hesitated. "You can do it with perfect safety. We cannot possibly escape from this ship, you know; and besides, you can keep us in sight," he added. Still the man hesitated, and at length inquired: "Why do you wish to speak with her alone?" "To try to soothe her spirits. I know it would be quite useless to tell you how entirely innocent this lady is of the heinous crime imputed to her; for even if you should believe her to be so, you would have to do your duty all the same." "Yes, certainly; and a most distressing duty," put in the officer. "This arrest has come upon her so suddenly, and when she is so utterly unprepared to meet it, that it has quite overcome her, as you see; but leave her alone with me for a few minutes, and I will try to calm her mind, and induce her to yield quietly to this necessity," added Lyon.