The Midnight Queen [118]
Joanna may stagnate here till you
blue-mold, for me. But keep the door fast, my good old friend,
and admit no strangers, but those who can tell you La Masque is
dead!"
With which parting piece of advice Sir Norman left the house, and
joined George, who sat like an effigy before the door, in a state
of great mental wrath, and who accosted him rather suddenly the
moment be made his appearance.
"I tell you what, Sir Norman Kingsley, if you have many more
morning calls to make, I shall beg leave to take my departure.
As it is, I know we are behind time, and his ma - the count, I
mean, is not one who it accustomed or inclined to be kept
waiting."
"I am quite at your service now," said Sir Norman, springing on
horseback; "so away with you, quick as you like."
George wanted no second order. Before the words were well out of
his companion's mouth, he was dashing away like a bolt from a
bow, as furiously as if on a steeple-chase, with Sir Norman close
at his heels; and they rode, flushed and breathless, with their
steeds all a foaming, into the court-yard of the royal palace at
Whitehall, just as the early rising sun was showing his florid
and burning visage above the horizon.
_______________
The court-yard, unlike the city streets, swarmed with busy life.
Pages, and attendants, and soldiers, moving hither and thither,
or lounging about, preparing for the morning's journey to Oxford.
Among the rest Sir Norman observed Hubert, lying very much at his
ease wrapped in his cloak, on the ground, and chatting languidly
with a pert and pretty attendant of the fair Mistress Stuart. He
cut short his flirtation, however, abruptly enough, and sprang to
his feet as he saw Sir Norman, while George immediately darted
off and disappeared from the palace.
"Am I late Hubert?" said his hurried questioner, as he drew the
lad's arm within his own, and led him off out of hearing.
"I think not. The count," said Hubert, with laughing emphasis,
"has not been visible since he entered yonder doorway, and there
has been no message that I have heard of. Doubtless, now that
George has arrived, the message will soon be here, for the royal
procession starts within half an hour."
"Are you sure there is no trick, Hubert? Even now he may be with
Leoline!"
Hubert shrugged his shoulders.
"He maybe; we must take our chance for that; but we have his
royal word to the contrary. Not that I have much faith in that!"
said Hubert.
"If he were king of the world instead of only England," cried Sir
Norman, with flashing eyes, "he shall not have Leoline while I
wear a sword to defend her!"
"Regicide!" exclaimed Hubert, holding up both hands in affected
horror. "Do my ears deceive me Is this the loyal and
chivalrous Sir Norman Kingsley, ready to die for king and country
- "
"Stuff and nonsense!" interrupted Sir Norman, impatiently. "I
tell you any one, be he whom he may, that attempts to take
Leoline from me, must reach her over my dead body!"
"Bravo! You ought to be a Frenchman, Sir Norman! And what if
the lady herself, finding her dazzling suitor drop his barnyard
feathers, and soar over her head in his own eagle plumes, may not
give you your dismissal, and usurp the place of pretty Madame
Stuart."
"You cold-blooded young villain! if you insinuate such a thing
again, I'll throttle you! Leoline loves me, and me alone!"
"Doubtless she thinks so; but she has yet to learn she has a king
for a suitor!"
"Bah! You are nothing but a heartless cynic," said Sir Norman,
yet with an anxious and irritated flush on his face, too: "What
do you know of love?"
"More than you think, as pretty Mariette yonder could depose, if
put upon oath. But seriously, Sir Norman, I am afraid your case
is of the most desperate; royal rivals are dangerous things!"
"Yet Charles has kind impulses,
blue-mold, for me. But keep the door fast, my good old friend,
and admit no strangers, but those who can tell you La Masque is
dead!"
With which parting piece of advice Sir Norman left the house, and
joined George, who sat like an effigy before the door, in a state
of great mental wrath, and who accosted him rather suddenly the
moment be made his appearance.
"I tell you what, Sir Norman Kingsley, if you have many more
morning calls to make, I shall beg leave to take my departure.
As it is, I know we are behind time, and his ma - the count, I
mean, is not one who it accustomed or inclined to be kept
waiting."
"I am quite at your service now," said Sir Norman, springing on
horseback; "so away with you, quick as you like."
George wanted no second order. Before the words were well out of
his companion's mouth, he was dashing away like a bolt from a
bow, as furiously as if on a steeple-chase, with Sir Norman close
at his heels; and they rode, flushed and breathless, with their
steeds all a foaming, into the court-yard of the royal palace at
Whitehall, just as the early rising sun was showing his florid
and burning visage above the horizon.
_______________
The court-yard, unlike the city streets, swarmed with busy life.
Pages, and attendants, and soldiers, moving hither and thither,
or lounging about, preparing for the morning's journey to Oxford.
Among the rest Sir Norman observed Hubert, lying very much at his
ease wrapped in his cloak, on the ground, and chatting languidly
with a pert and pretty attendant of the fair Mistress Stuart. He
cut short his flirtation, however, abruptly enough, and sprang to
his feet as he saw Sir Norman, while George immediately darted
off and disappeared from the palace.
"Am I late Hubert?" said his hurried questioner, as he drew the
lad's arm within his own, and led him off out of hearing.
"I think not. The count," said Hubert, with laughing emphasis,
"has not been visible since he entered yonder doorway, and there
has been no message that I have heard of. Doubtless, now that
George has arrived, the message will soon be here, for the royal
procession starts within half an hour."
"Are you sure there is no trick, Hubert? Even now he may be with
Leoline!"
Hubert shrugged his shoulders.
"He maybe; we must take our chance for that; but we have his
royal word to the contrary. Not that I have much faith in that!"
said Hubert.
"If he were king of the world instead of only England," cried Sir
Norman, with flashing eyes, "he shall not have Leoline while I
wear a sword to defend her!"
"Regicide!" exclaimed Hubert, holding up both hands in affected
horror. "Do my ears deceive me Is this the loyal and
chivalrous Sir Norman Kingsley, ready to die for king and country
- "
"Stuff and nonsense!" interrupted Sir Norman, impatiently. "I
tell you any one, be he whom he may, that attempts to take
Leoline from me, must reach her over my dead body!"
"Bravo! You ought to be a Frenchman, Sir Norman! And what if
the lady herself, finding her dazzling suitor drop his barnyard
feathers, and soar over her head in his own eagle plumes, may not
give you your dismissal, and usurp the place of pretty Madame
Stuart."
"You cold-blooded young villain! if you insinuate such a thing
again, I'll throttle you! Leoline loves me, and me alone!"
"Doubtless she thinks so; but she has yet to learn she has a king
for a suitor!"
"Bah! You are nothing but a heartless cynic," said Sir Norman,
yet with an anxious and irritated flush on his face, too: "What
do you know of love?"
"More than you think, as pretty Mariette yonder could depose, if
put upon oath. But seriously, Sir Norman, I am afraid your case
is of the most desperate; royal rivals are dangerous things!"
"Yet Charles has kind impulses,