CHAPTER XX.

Those in front had spread the news before us.

We found the servants in a state of panic.

As we passed my lady's door, it was thrown open violently from the inner side.

My mistress came out among us with Mr. Franklin following and trying vainly to compose her

quite beside herself with the horror of the thing.

You are answerable for this, she cried out, threatening the sergeant wildly with her hand.

Gabriel gave that wretch his money and released me from the sight of him.

The sergeant was the only one among us who was fit to cope with her, being the only one

among us who was in possession of himself.

I am no more answerable for this distressing calamity, my lady, than you are, he said.

If, in half an hour from this, you still insist on my leaving the house, I will accept

your lady's dismissal, but not your lady's money.

She was spoken, very respectfully, but very firmly at the same time, and it had its effect

on my mistress as well as on me.

She suffered Mr. Franklin to lead her back into the room.

As a door closed on the two, the sergeant, looking about among the women's servants in his

observant way, noticed that while all the rest were merely frightened, Penelope was in

tears.

When your father has changed his wet clothes, he said to her, come and speak to us in your

father's room.

Before the half-hour was out, I had got my dry clothes on, and in lent sergeant cuff,

...