The Midnight Queen [104]
"By your leave!" exclaimed Sir Norman. "Not quite so fast!
Stand out here in the moonlight, until I see who you are."
"Let me go!" cried the man, grappling with his opponent. "I know
who you are, and I swear you'll never see moonlight or sunlight
again, if you do not instantly let me go."
Sir Norman recognized the voice with a perfect shout of delight.
"The duke, by all that's lucky! O, I'll let you go: but not until
the hangman gets hold of you. Villain and robber, you shall pay
for your misdeeds now!"
"Hold!" shouted the commanding voice of Count L'Estrange.
"Cease, Sir Norman Kingsley! there is no time, and this is no
person for you to scoff with. He is our prisoner, and shall show
us the nearest way into this den of thieves. Give me your sword,
fellow, and be thankful I do not make you shorter by a head with
it."
"You do not know him!" cried Sir Norman; in vivid excitement. "I
tell you this is the identical scoundrel who attempted to rob and
murder you a few hours ago."
"So much the better! He shall pay for that and all his other
shortcomings, before long! But, in the meantime, I order him to
bring us before the rest of this outlawed crew."
"I shall do nothing of the kind," said the duke, sullenly.
"Just as you please. Here, my men, two of you take hold of this
scoundrel, and dispatch him at once."
The guard had all dismounted; and two of them came forward with
edifying obedience, to do as they were told.
The effect upon the duke was miraculous. Instantly he started
up, with an energy perfectly amazing:
"No, no, no! I'll do it! Come this way, gentlemen, and I'll
bring you direct into their midst. O good Lord! whatever will
become of us?"
This last frantic question was addressed to society in general,
but Sir Norman felt called upon to answer:
"That's very easily told, my man. If you and the rest of your
titled associates receive your deserts (as there is no doubt you
will) from the gracious hand of our sovereign lord, the king, the
strongest rope and highest gallows at Tyburn will be your
elevated destiny."
The duke groaned dismally, and would have come to a halt to beg
mercy on the spot, had not Hubert given him a probe in, the ribs
with the point of his dagger, that sent him on again, with a
distracted howl.
"Why, this is a perfect Hades!" said the count, as he stumbled
after, in the darkness. "Are you sure we are going right,
Kingsley"
The inquiry was not unnatural, for the blackness was perfectly
Tartarian, and the soldiers behind were knocking their tall shins
against all sorts of obstacles as they groped blindly along,
invoking from them countless curses, not loud, but deep.
"I don't know whether we are or not," said Sir Norman
significantly; "only, God help him if we're not! Where are you
taking us to, you black-looking bandit?"
"I give you my word of honor, gentlemen," said an imploring voice
in the darkness, "that I'm leading you, by the nearest way, to
the Midnight Court. All I ask ,of you in return is, that you
will let me enter before you; for if they find that I lead you
in, my life will not be worth a moment's purchase."
"As if it ever was worth it," said Sir Norman, contemptuously.
"On with you, and be thankful I don't save your companions the
trouble, by making an end of you where you stand."
"Rush along, old fellow," suggested Hubert, giving him another
poke with his dagger, that drew forth a second doleful howl.
Notwithstanding the darkness, Sir Norman discovered that they
were being led in a direction exactly opposite that by which he
had previously effected an entrance. They were in the vault, he
knew, by the darkness, though they had descended no stair-case,
and he was just wondering if their guide was not meditating some
treachery by such a circuitous route, when suddenly a tumult of
voices,