The Midnight Queen - Page 27/177

Sir Norman, deeply edified by the easy sang-froid of the speaker, turned

to take a second look at him. There was very little light; for the night

had grown darker as it wore on, and the few stars that had glimmered

faintly had hid their diminished heads behind the piles of inky clouds.

Still, there was a sort of faint phosphorescent light whitening the

gloom, and by it Sir Norman's keen bright eyes discovered that he wore

a long dark cloak and slouched hat. He discovered something else,

too--that he had seen that hat and cloak, and the man inside of them on

London Bridge, not an hour before. It struck Sir Norman there was a sort

of fatality in their meeting; and his pulses quickened a trifle, as he

thought that he might be speaking to the husband of the lady for whom

he had so suddenly conceived such a rash and inordinate attachment. That

personage meantime having reloaded his pistol, with a self-possession

refreshing to witness, replaced it in his doublet, gathered up the

reins, and, glancing slightly at his companion, spoke again, "I should thank you for saving my life, I suppose, but thanking people

is so little in my line, that I scarcely know how to set about it.

Perhaps, my dear sir, you will take the will for the deed."

"An original, this," thought Sir Norman, "whoever he is." Then aloud:

"Pray don't trouble yourself about thanks, sir, I should have dome

precisely the same for the highwaymen, had you been three to one over

them."

"I don't doubt it in the least; nevertheless I feel grateful, for you

have saved my life all the same, and you have never seen me before."

"There you are mistaken," said Sir Norman, quietly "I had the pleasure

of seeing you scarce an hour ago."

"Ah!" said the stranger, in an altered tone, "and where?"

"On London Bridge."

"I did not see you."

"Very likely, but I was there none the less."

"Do you know me?" said the stranger; and Sir Norman could see he was

gazing at him sharply from under the shadow of his slouched hat.

"I have not that honor, but I hope to do so before we part."

"It was quite dark when you saw me on the bridge--how comes it, then,

that you recollect me so well?"

"I have always been blessed with an excellent memory," said Sir Norman

carelessly, "and I knew your dress, face, and voice instantly."

"My voice! Then you heard me speak, probably to the watchman guarding a

plague-stricken house?"

"Exactly! and the subject being a very interesting one, I listened to

all you said."

"Indeed I and what possible interest could; the subject have for you,

may I ask?"