The Midnight Queen [101]
She is as safe there, and much safer than in her own
house, until morning, and it would be a pity to disturb her at
this unseasonable hour. When the morning comes, we will both go
to her together - state our rival claims - and whichever one she
decides on accepting, can have her, and end the matter at once."
The count paused and meditated. This proposal was all very
plausible and nice on the surface, but Sir Norman with his usual
penetration and acuteness, looked farther than the surface, and
found a flaw.
"And how am I to know," he asked, doubtingly, "that you will not
go to her to-night and spirit her off where I will never hear of
either of you again?"
"In the very best way in the world: we will not part company
until morning comes, are we at peace?" inquired the count,
smiling and holding out but hand.
"Until then, we will have to be, I suppose," replied Sir Norman,
rather ungraciously taking the hand as if it were red-hot, and
dropping it again. "And we are to stand here and rail at each
other, in the meantime?"
"By no means! Even the most sublime prospect tires when surveyed
too long. There is a little excursion which I would like you to
accompany me on, if you have no objection."
"Where to?"
"To the ruin, where you have already been twice to-night."
Sir Norman stared.
"And who told you this fact, Sir Count?"
"Never mind; I have heard it. Would you object to a third
excursion there before morning?"
Again Sir Norman paused and meditated. There was no use in
staying where he was, that would bring him no nearer to Leoline,
and nothing was to be gained by killing the count beyond the mere
transitory pleasure of the thing. On the other hand, he had an
intense and ardent desire to re-visit the ruin, and learn what
had become of Miranda -the only draw-back being that, if they
were found they would both be most assuredly beheaded. Then,
again, there was Hubert.
"Well," inquired the count, as Sir Norman looked up.
"I have no objection to go with you to the ruin," was the reply,
"only this; if we are seen there, we will be dead men two minutes
after; and I have no desire to depart this life until I have had
that promised interview with Leoline."
"I have thought of that," said the count, "and have provided for
it. We may venture in the lion's den without the slightest
danger: all that is required being your promise to guide us
thither. Do you give it?"
"I do; but I expect a friend here shortly, and cannot start until
he comes."
"If you mean me by that, I am here," said a voice at his elbow;
and, looking round, he saw Hubert himself, standing there, a
quiet listener and spectator of the scene.
Count L'Estrange looked at him with interest, and Hubert,
affecting not to notice the survey, watched Sir Norman.
"Well," was that individual's eager address, "were you
successful?"
The count was still watching the boy so intently, that that most
discreet youth was suddenly seized with a violent fit of
coughing, which precluded all possibility of reply for at least
five minutes; and Sir Norman, at the same moment, felt his arm
receive a sharp and warning pinch.
"Is this your friend?" asked the count. "He is a very small one,
and seems in a bad state of health."
Sir Norman, still under the influence of the pinch, replied by an
inaudible murmur, and looked with a deeply mystified expression,
at Hubert.
"He bears a strong resemblance to the lady we were talking of a
moment ago," continued the count - "is sufficiently like her, in
fact, to be her brother; and, I see wears the livery of the Earl
of Rochester."
"God spare you your eye-sight!" said Sir Norman, impatiently.
"Can you not see, among the rest, that I have a few words to say
to him in private? Permit us to leave you for a moment."
"There is no need to do so. I will
house, until morning, and it would be a pity to disturb her at
this unseasonable hour. When the morning comes, we will both go
to her together - state our rival claims - and whichever one she
decides on accepting, can have her, and end the matter at once."
The count paused and meditated. This proposal was all very
plausible and nice on the surface, but Sir Norman with his usual
penetration and acuteness, looked farther than the surface, and
found a flaw.
"And how am I to know," he asked, doubtingly, "that you will not
go to her to-night and spirit her off where I will never hear of
either of you again?"
"In the very best way in the world: we will not part company
until morning comes, are we at peace?" inquired the count,
smiling and holding out but hand.
"Until then, we will have to be, I suppose," replied Sir Norman,
rather ungraciously taking the hand as if it were red-hot, and
dropping it again. "And we are to stand here and rail at each
other, in the meantime?"
"By no means! Even the most sublime prospect tires when surveyed
too long. There is a little excursion which I would like you to
accompany me on, if you have no objection."
"Where to?"
"To the ruin, where you have already been twice to-night."
Sir Norman stared.
"And who told you this fact, Sir Count?"
"Never mind; I have heard it. Would you object to a third
excursion there before morning?"
Again Sir Norman paused and meditated. There was no use in
staying where he was, that would bring him no nearer to Leoline,
and nothing was to be gained by killing the count beyond the mere
transitory pleasure of the thing. On the other hand, he had an
intense and ardent desire to re-visit the ruin, and learn what
had become of Miranda -the only draw-back being that, if they
were found they would both be most assuredly beheaded. Then,
again, there was Hubert.
"Well," inquired the count, as Sir Norman looked up.
"I have no objection to go with you to the ruin," was the reply,
"only this; if we are seen there, we will be dead men two minutes
after; and I have no desire to depart this life until I have had
that promised interview with Leoline."
"I have thought of that," said the count, "and have provided for
it. We may venture in the lion's den without the slightest
danger: all that is required being your promise to guide us
thither. Do you give it?"
"I do; but I expect a friend here shortly, and cannot start until
he comes."
"If you mean me by that, I am here," said a voice at his elbow;
and, looking round, he saw Hubert himself, standing there, a
quiet listener and spectator of the scene.
Count L'Estrange looked at him with interest, and Hubert,
affecting not to notice the survey, watched Sir Norman.
"Well," was that individual's eager address, "were you
successful?"
The count was still watching the boy so intently, that that most
discreet youth was suddenly seized with a violent fit of
coughing, which precluded all possibility of reply for at least
five minutes; and Sir Norman, at the same moment, felt his arm
receive a sharp and warning pinch.
"Is this your friend?" asked the count. "He is a very small one,
and seems in a bad state of health."
Sir Norman, still under the influence of the pinch, replied by an
inaudible murmur, and looked with a deeply mystified expression,
at Hubert.
"He bears a strong resemblance to the lady we were talking of a
moment ago," continued the count - "is sufficiently like her, in
fact, to be her brother; and, I see wears the livery of the Earl
of Rochester."
"God spare you your eye-sight!" said Sir Norman, impatiently.
"Can you not see, among the rest, that I have a few words to say
to him in private? Permit us to leave you for a moment."
"There is no need to do so. I will