"Robert! I say, Robert!"
"Well!" said Robert, looking up.
"Master and missus be gone at last, and the rest won't live till
morning."
"Won't they?" said Robert, phlegmatically; "what a pity! Got 'em ready,
and I'll stop the dead-cart when it comes round."
Just as he spoke, the well-known rattle of wheels, the loud ringing of
the bell, and the monotonous cry of the driver, "Bring out your dead!
bring out your dead!" echoed on the pale night's silence; and the
pest-cart came rumbling and jolting along with its load of death. The
watchman hailed the driver, according to promise, and they entered the
house together, brought out one long, white figure, and then another,
and threw them on top of the ghastly heap.
"We'll have three more for you in on hour of so--don't forget to come
round," suggested the watchman.
"All right!" said the driver, as he took his place, whipped his horse,
rang his bell, and jogged along nonchalantly to the plague-pit.
Sick at heart, Leoline dropped the curtain, and turned round to see
somebody else standing at her elbow. She had been quite alone when she
looked out; she was alone no longer; there had been no noise, yet soma
one had entered, and was standing beside her. A tall figure, all in
black, with its sweeping velvet robes spangled with stars of golden
rubies, a perfect figure of incomparable grace and beauty. It had worn a
cloak that had dropped lightly from its shoulders, and lay on the floor
and the long hair streamed in darkness over shoulder and waist. The
face was masked, the form stood erect and perfectly motionless, and the
scream of surprise and consternation that arose to Leoline's lips died
out in wordless terror. Her noiseless visitor perceived it, and touching
her arm lightly with one little white hand, said in her sweetest and
most exquisite of tones: "My child, do not tremble so, and do not look so deathly white. You know
me, do you not?"
"You are La Masque!" said Leoline trembling with nervous dread.
"I am, and no stranger to you; though perhaps you think so. Is it
your habit every night to look out of your window in full dress until
morning?"
"How did you enter?" asked Leoline, her curiosity overcoming for a
moment even her fear.
"Through the door. Not a difficult thing, either, if you leave it wide
open every night, as it is this."
"Was it open?" said Leoline, in dismay. "I never knew it."
"Ah! then it was not you who went out last. Who was it?"
"It was--was--" Leoline's cheeks were scarlet; "it was a friend!"
"A somewhat late hour for one's friends to visit," said La Masque,
sarcastically; "and you should learn the precaution of seeing them to
the door and fastening it after them."