The Midnight Queen - Page 173/177

As the last glimpse of moonlight and of Hubert's bright face vanished,

Leoline took to pacing up and down the room in a most conflicting and

excited state of mind. So many things had happened during the past

night; so rapid and unprecedented had been the course of events; so

changed had her whole life become within the last twelve hours, that

when she came to think it all over, it fairly made her giddy. Dressing

for her bridal; the terrible announcement of Prudence; the death-like

swoon; the awakening at the plague-pit; the maniac flight through the

streets; the cold plunge in the river; her rescue; her interview with

Sir Norman, and her promise; the visit of La Masque; the appearance of

the count; her abduction; her journey here; the coming of Hubert, and

their suddenly-discovered relationship. It was enough to stun any one;

and the end was not yet. Would Hubert effect his escape? Would they be

able to free her? What place was this, and who was Count L'Estrange? It

was a great deal easier to propound this catechism to herself than

to find answers to her own questions; and so she walked up and down,

worrying her pretty little head with all sorts of anxieties, until it

was a perfect miracle that softening of the brain did not ensue.

Her feet gave out sooner than her brain, though; and she got so tired

before long, that she dropped into a seat, with a long-drawn, anxious

sigh; and, worn out with fatigue and watching, she, at last, fell

asleep.

And sleeping, she dreamed. It seemed to her that the count and Sir

Norman were before her, in her chamber in the old house on London

Bridge, tossing her heart between them like a sort of shuttlecock.

By-and-by, with two things like two drumsticks, they began hammering

away at the poor, little, fluttering heart, as if it were an anvil and

they were a pair of blacksmiths, while the loud knocks upon it resounded

through the room. For a time, she was so bewildered that she could not

comprehend what it meant; but, at last, she became conscious that some

one was rapping at the door. Pressing one hand over her startled heart,

she called "Come in!" and the door opened and George entered.

"Count L'Estrange commands me to inform you, fair lady, that he will

do himself the pleasure of visiting you immediately, with Sir Norman

Kingsley, if you are prepared to receive them."

"With Sir Norman Kingsley!" repeated Leoline, faintly. "I-I am afraid I

do not quite understand."