The Midnight Queen - Page 35/177

The landlord leaned over the counter, and placed a very pale and

startled face close to Sir Norman's.

"That's just what I wanted to tell you, sir, but I was afraid to speak

before him. I think he lives up in that same old ruin you were inquiring

about--at least, he is often seen hanging around there; but people are

too much afraid of him to ask him any questions. Ah, sir, it's a strange

place, that ruin, and there be strange stories afloat about it," said

the man, with a portentious shake of the head.

"What are they?" inquired Sir Norman. "I should particularly like to

know."

"Well, sir, for one thing, some folks say it is haunted, on account of

the queer lights and noises abort it, sometimes; but, again, there be

other folks, sir, that say the ghosts are alive, and that he"--nodding

toward the door--"is a sort of ringleader among them."

"And who are they that out up such cantrips in the old place, pray?"

"Lord only knows, sir. I'm sure I don't. I never go near it myself; but

there are others who have, and some of them tell of the most beautiful

lady, all in white, with long, black hair, who walks on the battlements

moonlight nights."

"A beautiful lady, all in white, with long, black hair! Why, that

description applies to Leoline exactly."

And Sir Norman gave a violent start, and arose to proceed to the place

directly.

"Don't you go near it, sir!" said the host, warningly. "Others have

gone, as he told you, and never come back; for these be dreadful times,

and men do as they please. Between the plague and their wickedness, the

Lord only known what will become of us!"

"If I should return here for my horse in an hour or two, I suppose I can

get him?" sad Sir Norman, as he turned toward the door.

"It's likely you can, sir, if I'm not dead by that time," said the

landlord, as he sank down again, groaning dismally, with his chin

between his hands.

The night was now profoundly dark; but Sir Norman knew the road and ruin

well, and, drawing his sword, walked resolutely on. The distance between

it and the ruin was trifling, and in less than ten minutes it loomed

up before him, a mass of deeper black in the blackness. No white vision

floated on the broken battlements this night, as Sir Norman looked

wistfully up at them; but neither was there any ungainly dwarf, with

two-edged sword, guarding the ruined entrance; and Sir Norman passed

unmolested in. He sought the spiral staircase which La Masque had

spoken of, and, passing carefully from one ancient chamber to another,

stumbling over piles of rubbish and stones as he went, he reached it at

last. Descending gingerly its tortuous steepness, he found himself in

the mouldering vaults, and, as he trod them, his ear was greeted by

the sound of faint and far-off music. Proceeding farther, he heard

distinctly, mingled with it, a murmur of voices and laughter, and,

through the chinks in the broken flags, he perceived a few faint rays

of light. Remembering the directions of La Masque, and feeling intensely

curious, he cautiously knelt down, and examined the loose flagstones

until he found one he could raise; he pushed it partly aside, and, lying

flat on the stones, with his face to the aperture, Sir Norman beheld a

most wonderful sight.