The Midnight Queen [14]
Where
shall we go next - to La Masque or the peat-house?"
"To La Masque - I hate the idea of the pest-house!"
"She may be there, nevertheless; and under present circumstances,
it is the beat place for her."
"Don't talk of it!" said Sir Norman, impatiently. "I do not and
will not believe she is there! If the sorceress shows her to me
in the caldron again, I verily believe I shall jump in head
foremost."
"And I verily believe we will not find La Masque at home. She
wanders through the streets at all hours, but particularly
affects the night."
"We shall try, however. Come along!"
The house of the sorceress was but a short distance from that of
Sir Norman's plague-stricken lady-love's; and shod with a sort of
seven-league boots, they soon reached it. Like the other, it was
all dark and deserted.
"This is the home," said Ormiston, looking at it doubtfully, "but
where is La Masque?"
"Here!" said a silvery voice at his elbow; and turning round,
they saw a tall, slender figure, cloaked, hooded, and masked.
"Surely, you two do not want me again to-night?"
Both gentlemen doffed their plumed hats, and simultaneously
bowed.
"Fortune favors us," said Sir Norman. "Yes, madam, it is even
so; once again to-night we would tax your skill."
"Well, what do you wish to know?"
"Madam, we are in the street."
"Sir, I'm aware of that. Pray proceed,"
"Will you not have the goodness to permit us to enter?" said Sir
Norman, inclined to feel offended. "How can you tell us what we
wish to know, here?"
"That is my secret," said the sweet voice. "Probably Sir Norman
Kingsley wishes to know something of the fair lady I showed him
some time ago?"
"Madam, you've guessed it. It is for that purpose I have sought
you now."
"Then you have seen her already?"
"I have."
"And love her?"
"With all my heart!"
"A rapid flame," said the musical voice, in a tone that had just
a thought of sarcasm; "for one of whose very existence you did
not dream two hours ago."
"Madame La Masque," said Norman, flushed sad haughty, "love is
not a question of time."
"Sir Norman Kingsley," said the lady, somewhat sadly, "I am aware
of that. Tell me what you wish to know, and if it be in my
power, you shall know it."
"A thousand thanks! Tell me, then, is she whom I seek living or
dead?"
"She is alive."
"She has the plague?" said Sir Norman.
"I know it."
"Will she recover?"
"She will."
"Where is she now?"
Ls Masque hesitated and seemed uncertain whether or not to reply.
Sir Norman passionately broke in:
"Tell me, madam, for I must know!"
"Then you shall; but, remember, if you get into danger, you must
not blame me."
"Blame you! No, I think I would hardly do that. Where am I to
seek for her?"
"Two miles from London beyond Newgate," said the mask. "There
stand the ruins of what was long ago a hunting-lodge, now a
crumbling skeleton, roofless and windowless, and said, by rumor,
to be haunted. Perhaps you have seen or heard of it?"
"I have seen it a hundred times," broke in Sir Norman. "Surely,
you do not mean to say she is there?"
"Go there, and you will see. Go there to-night, and lose no time
- that is, supposing you can procure a license."
"I have one already. I have a pass from the Lord Mayor to come
and go from the city when I please."
"Good! Then you'll go to-night."
"I will go. I might as well do that as anything else, I suppose;
but it is quite impossible," said Sir Norman, firmly, not to say
obstinately, "that she can be there."
"Very well you'll see. You had better go on horseback, if you
desire to be back in time to witness the illumination."
"I don't particularly desire to see the illumination, as I know
of; but I will ride, nevertheless. What am I to
shall we go next - to La Masque or the peat-house?"
"To La Masque - I hate the idea of the pest-house!"
"She may be there, nevertheless; and under present circumstances,
it is the beat place for her."
"Don't talk of it!" said Sir Norman, impatiently. "I do not and
will not believe she is there! If the sorceress shows her to me
in the caldron again, I verily believe I shall jump in head
foremost."
"And I verily believe we will not find La Masque at home. She
wanders through the streets at all hours, but particularly
affects the night."
"We shall try, however. Come along!"
The house of the sorceress was but a short distance from that of
Sir Norman's plague-stricken lady-love's; and shod with a sort of
seven-league boots, they soon reached it. Like the other, it was
all dark and deserted.
"This is the home," said Ormiston, looking at it doubtfully, "but
where is La Masque?"
"Here!" said a silvery voice at his elbow; and turning round,
they saw a tall, slender figure, cloaked, hooded, and masked.
"Surely, you two do not want me again to-night?"
Both gentlemen doffed their plumed hats, and simultaneously
bowed.
"Fortune favors us," said Sir Norman. "Yes, madam, it is even
so; once again to-night we would tax your skill."
"Well, what do you wish to know?"
"Madam, we are in the street."
"Sir, I'm aware of that. Pray proceed,"
"Will you not have the goodness to permit us to enter?" said Sir
Norman, inclined to feel offended. "How can you tell us what we
wish to know, here?"
"That is my secret," said the sweet voice. "Probably Sir Norman
Kingsley wishes to know something of the fair lady I showed him
some time ago?"
"Madam, you've guessed it. It is for that purpose I have sought
you now."
"Then you have seen her already?"
"I have."
"And love her?"
"With all my heart!"
"A rapid flame," said the musical voice, in a tone that had just
a thought of sarcasm; "for one of whose very existence you did
not dream two hours ago."
"Madame La Masque," said Norman, flushed sad haughty, "love is
not a question of time."
"Sir Norman Kingsley," said the lady, somewhat sadly, "I am aware
of that. Tell me what you wish to know, and if it be in my
power, you shall know it."
"A thousand thanks! Tell me, then, is she whom I seek living or
dead?"
"She is alive."
"She has the plague?" said Sir Norman.
"I know it."
"Will she recover?"
"She will."
"Where is she now?"
Ls Masque hesitated and seemed uncertain whether or not to reply.
Sir Norman passionately broke in:
"Tell me, madam, for I must know!"
"Then you shall; but, remember, if you get into danger, you must
not blame me."
"Blame you! No, I think I would hardly do that. Where am I to
seek for her?"
"Two miles from London beyond Newgate," said the mask. "There
stand the ruins of what was long ago a hunting-lodge, now a
crumbling skeleton, roofless and windowless, and said, by rumor,
to be haunted. Perhaps you have seen or heard of it?"
"I have seen it a hundred times," broke in Sir Norman. "Surely,
you do not mean to say she is there?"
"Go there, and you will see. Go there to-night, and lose no time
- that is, supposing you can procure a license."
"I have one already. I have a pass from the Lord Mayor to come
and go from the city when I please."
"Good! Then you'll go to-night."
"I will go. I might as well do that as anything else, I suppose;
but it is quite impossible," said Sir Norman, firmly, not to say
obstinately, "that she can be there."
"Very well you'll see. You had better go on horseback, if you
desire to be back in time to witness the illumination."
"I don't particularly desire to see the illumination, as I know
of; but I will ride, nevertheless. What am I to