The Midnight Queen - Page 159/177

"You shall see."

She was looking down into the plague-pit, standing so close to its

cracking edge, that Sir Norman's blood ran cold, in the momentary

expectation to see her slip and fall headlong in. Her voice was less

fierce and less wild, but her hands were still clasped tightly over her

heart, as if to ease the unutterable pain there. Suddenly, she looked

up, and said, in an altered tone: "You have lost Leoline?"

"And found her again. She is in the power of one Count L'Estrange."

"And if in his power, pray, how have you found her?"

"Because we are both to meet in her presence within this very hour, and

she is to decide between us."

"Has Count L'Estrange promised you this?"

"He has."

"And you have no doubt what her decision will be?"

"Not the slightest."

"How came you to know she was carried off by this count?"

"He confessed it himself."

"Voluntarily?"

"No; I taxed him with it, and he owned to the deed; but he voluntarily

promised to take me to her and abide by her decision."

"Extraordinary!" said La Masque, as if to herself. "Whimsical as he is,

I scarcely expected he would give her up no easily as this."

"Then you know him, madame?" said Sir Norman, pointedly.

"There are few things I do not know, and rare are the disguises I cannot

penetrate. So you have discovered it, too?"

"No, madame, my eyes were not sharp enough, nor had I sufficient

cleverness, even, for that. It was Hubert, the Earl of Rochester's page,

who told me who he was."

"Ah, the page!" said La Masque, quickly. "You have then been speaking to

him? What do you think of his resemblance to Leoline?"

"I think it is the most astonishing resemblance I ever saw. But he is

not the only one who bears Leoline's face."

"And the other is?"

"The other is she whom you sent me to see in the old ruins. Madame, I

wish you would tell me the secret of this wonderful likeness; for I am

certain you know, and I am equally certain it is not accidental."

"You are right. Leoline knows already; for, with the presentiment that

my end was near, I visited her when you left, and gave her her whole

history, in writing. The explanation is simple enough. Leoline, Miranda,

and Hubert, are sisters and brother."

Some misty idea that such was the case had been struggling through Sir

Norman's slow mind, unformed and without shape, ever since he had seen

the trio, therefore he was not the least astonished when he heard the

fact announced. Only in one thing he was a little disappointed.

"Then Hubert is really a boy?" he said, half dejectedly.