The Midnight Queen - Page 171/177

"But I have proofs, lad! The authenticity of these papers cannot be

doubted."

"With all my heart. I have no objections to be made a marquis of, and go

back to la belle France, out of this land of plague and fog. Won't some

of my friends here be astonished when they hear it, particularly the

Earl of Rochester, when he finds out that he has had a marquis for a

page? Ah, here comes George, and bearing a summons from Count L'Estrange

at last."

George approached, and intimated that Sir Norman was to follow him to

the presence of his master.

"Au revoir, then," said Hubert. "You will find me here when you come

back."

Sir Norman, with a slight tremor of the nerves at what was to come,

followed the king's page through halls and anterooms, full of loiterers,

courtiers, and their attendants. Once a hand was laid on his shoulder, a

laughing voice met his ear, and the Earl of Rochester stood beside him!

"Good-morning, Sir Norman; you are abroad betimes. How have you left

your friend, the Count L'Estrange?"

"Your lordship has probably seen him since I have, and should be able to

answer that question best."

"And how does his suit progress with the pretty Leoline?" went on

the gay earl. "In faith, Kingsley, I never saw such a charming little

beauty; and I shall do combat with you yet--with both the count and

yourself, and outwit the pair of you!"

"Permit me to differ from your lordship. Leoline would not touch you

with a pair of tongs!"

"Ah! she has better taste than you give her credit for; but if I should

fail, I know what to do to console myself."

"May I ask what?"

"Yes! there is Hubert, as like her an two peas in a pod. I shall dress

him up in lace and silks, and gewgaws, and have a Leoline of my own

already made its order."

"Permit me to doubt that, too! Hubert is as much lost to you as

Leoline!"

Leaving the volatile earl to put what construction pleased him best on

this last sententious remark, he resumed his march after George, and

was ushered, at last, into an ante-room near the audience-chamber.

Count L'Estrange, still attired as Count L'Estrange, stood near a window

overlooking the court-yard, and as the page salaamed and withdrew, he

turned round, and greeted Sir Norman with his suavest air.

"The appointed hour is passed, Sir Norman Kingsley, but that is partly

your own fault. Your guide hither tells me that you stopped for some

time at the house of a fortune-teller, known as La Masque. Why was

this!"

"I was forced to stop on most important business," answered the knight,

still resolved to treat him as the count, until it should please him

to doff his incognito, "of which you shall hear anon. Just now, our

business is with Leoline."