The Midnight Queen [78]
does not Prudence tell you?"
"Prudence is only my nurse, and says she has nothing to tell. My
parents died when I was an infant, and left me in her care - that
is her story."
"A likely one enough, and yet I see by your face that you doubt
it."
"I do doubt it! There are a thousand little outward things that
make me fancy it is false, and an inward voice that assures me it
is so."
"Then let me tell you that inward voice tells falsehoods, for I
know that your father and mother are both dead these fourteen
years!"
Leoline's great black eyes were fixed on her face with a look so
wild and eager, that La Masque laid her hand lightly and
soothingly on her shoulder.
"Don't look at me with such a spectral face! What is there so
extraordinary in all I have said?"
"You said you knew my father and mother."
"No such thing! I said I knew they were dead, but the other fact
is true also; I did know them when living!"
"Madame, who are you? Who were they?"
"I? Oh, I am La Masque, the sorceress, and they - they were
Leoline's father and mother!" and again La Masque slightly
laughed.
"You mock me, madame!" cried Leoline, passionately. "You are
cruel - you are heartless! If you know anything, in Heaven's
name tell me - if not, go and leave me in peace!"
"Thank you! I shall do that presently; and as to the other - of
course I shall tell you; what else do you suppose I have come for
to-night? Look here! Do you see this?"
She drew out from some hidden pocket in her dress a small and
beautifully-wrought casket of ivory and silver, with straps and
clasps of silver, and a tiny key of the same.
"Well!" asked Leoline, looking from it to her, with the blank air
of one utterly bewildered
"In this casket, my dear, there is a roll of papers, closely
written, which you are to read as soon as I leave you. Those
papers contain your whole history - do you understand?"
She was looking so white, and staring so hard and so hopelessly,
that there was need of the question. She took the casket and
gazed at it with a perplexed air.
"My child, have your thoughts gone wool-gathering? Do you not
comprehend what I have said to you! Your whole history is hid in
that box?"
"I know!" said Leoline, slowly, and with her eyes again riveted
to the black mask. "But; madame, who are you?"
"Have I not told you? What a pretty inquisitor it is! I am La
Masque - your friend, now; something more soon, as you will see
when you read what I have spoken of. Do not ask me how I have
come by it - you will read all about it there. I did not know
that I would give it to you to-night, but I have a strange
foreboding that it is destined to be my last on earth. And,
Leoline my child, before I leave you, let me hear you say you
will not hate me when you read what is there."
"What have you done to me? Why should I hate you?"
"Ah! you will find that all out soon enough. Do content me,
Leoline - let me hear you say; `La Masque, whatever you've done
to me, however you have wronged me, I will forgive you!' Can you
say that?"
Leoline repeated it simply, like a little child. La Masque took
her hand, held it between both her own, leaned over and looked
earnestly in her face.
"My little Leoline! my beautiful rosebud! May Heaven bless you
and grant you a long and happy life with - shall I say it,
Leoline?"
"Please - no!" whispered Leoline, shyly.
La Masque softly patted the little tremulous hand.
"We are both saying the name now in our hearts, my dear, so it is
little matter whether our lips repeat it or not. He is worthy,
of you, Leoline, and your life will be a happy one by his side;
but there is another." She paused and lowered her voice. " When
have you seen Count L'Estrange?"
"Not since yesterday, madame."
"Beware of him! Do you know who he is,
"Prudence is only my nurse, and says she has nothing to tell. My
parents died when I was an infant, and left me in her care - that
is her story."
"A likely one enough, and yet I see by your face that you doubt
it."
"I do doubt it! There are a thousand little outward things that
make me fancy it is false, and an inward voice that assures me it
is so."
"Then let me tell you that inward voice tells falsehoods, for I
know that your father and mother are both dead these fourteen
years!"
Leoline's great black eyes were fixed on her face with a look so
wild and eager, that La Masque laid her hand lightly and
soothingly on her shoulder.
"Don't look at me with such a spectral face! What is there so
extraordinary in all I have said?"
"You said you knew my father and mother."
"No such thing! I said I knew they were dead, but the other fact
is true also; I did know them when living!"
"Madame, who are you? Who were they?"
"I? Oh, I am La Masque, the sorceress, and they - they were
Leoline's father and mother!" and again La Masque slightly
laughed.
"You mock me, madame!" cried Leoline, passionately. "You are
cruel - you are heartless! If you know anything, in Heaven's
name tell me - if not, go and leave me in peace!"
"Thank you! I shall do that presently; and as to the other - of
course I shall tell you; what else do you suppose I have come for
to-night? Look here! Do you see this?"
She drew out from some hidden pocket in her dress a small and
beautifully-wrought casket of ivory and silver, with straps and
clasps of silver, and a tiny key of the same.
"Well!" asked Leoline, looking from it to her, with the blank air
of one utterly bewildered
"In this casket, my dear, there is a roll of papers, closely
written, which you are to read as soon as I leave you. Those
papers contain your whole history - do you understand?"
She was looking so white, and staring so hard and so hopelessly,
that there was need of the question. She took the casket and
gazed at it with a perplexed air.
"My child, have your thoughts gone wool-gathering? Do you not
comprehend what I have said to you! Your whole history is hid in
that box?"
"I know!" said Leoline, slowly, and with her eyes again riveted
to the black mask. "But; madame, who are you?"
"Have I not told you? What a pretty inquisitor it is! I am La
Masque - your friend, now; something more soon, as you will see
when you read what I have spoken of. Do not ask me how I have
come by it - you will read all about it there. I did not know
that I would give it to you to-night, but I have a strange
foreboding that it is destined to be my last on earth. And,
Leoline my child, before I leave you, let me hear you say you
will not hate me when you read what is there."
"What have you done to me? Why should I hate you?"
"Ah! you will find that all out soon enough. Do content me,
Leoline - let me hear you say; `La Masque, whatever you've done
to me, however you have wronged me, I will forgive you!' Can you
say that?"
Leoline repeated it simply, like a little child. La Masque took
her hand, held it between both her own, leaned over and looked
earnestly in her face.
"My little Leoline! my beautiful rosebud! May Heaven bless you
and grant you a long and happy life with - shall I say it,
Leoline?"
"Please - no!" whispered Leoline, shyly.
La Masque softly patted the little tremulous hand.
"We are both saying the name now in our hearts, my dear, so it is
little matter whether our lips repeat it or not. He is worthy,
of you, Leoline, and your life will be a happy one by his side;
but there is another." She paused and lowered her voice. " When
have you seen Count L'Estrange?"
"Not since yesterday, madame."
"Beware of him! Do you know who he is,