第59章

"Through the door.Not a difficult thing, either, if you leave it wide open every night, as it is this.""Was it open?" said Leoline, in dismay."I never knew it.""Ah! then it was not you who went out last.Who was it?""It was - was - " Leoline's cheeks were scarlet; "it was a friend!""A somewhat late hour for one's friends to visit," said La Masque, sarcastically; "and you should learn the precaution of seeing them to the door and fastening it after them.""Rest assured, I shall do so for the future," said Leoline, with a look that would have reminded Sir Nor man of Miranda had he seen it."I scarcely expected the honor of any more visits, particularly from strangers to-night.""Civil, that! Will you ask me to sit down, or am I to consider myself an unseasonable intruder, and depart?""Madame, will you do me the honor to be seated.The hour, as you say, is somewhat unseasonable, and you will oblige me by letting me know to what I am indebted for the pleasure of this visit, as quickly as possible."There was something quite dignified about Mistress Leoline as she swept rustling past La Masque, sank into the pillowy depths of her lounge, and motioned her visitor to a seat with a slight and graceful wave of her hand.Not but that in her secret heart she was a good deal frightened, for something under her pink satin corsage was going pit-a-pat at a wonderful rate; but she thought that betraying such a feeling would not be the thing.Perhaps the tall, dark figure saw it, and smiled behind her mask; but outwardly she only leaned lightly against the back of the chair, and glanced discreetly at the door.

"Are you sure we are quite alone?"

"Quite:"

"Because," said La Masque, in her low, silvery tones, "what Ihave come to say is not for the ears of any third person living:""We are entirely alone, madame," replied Leoline, opening her black eyes very wide."Prudence is gone, and I do not know when she will be back.""Prudence will never come back," said La Masque, quietly.

"Madame!"

"My dear, do not look so shocked - it is not her fault.You know she deserted you for fear of the plague.""Yes, yes!"

"Well, that did not save her; nay, it even brought on what she dreaded so much.Your nurse is plague-stricken, my dear, and lies ill unto death in the pesthouse in Finsbury Fields.""Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed Leoline, while every drop of blood fled from her face."My poor, poor old nurse!""Your poor, poor old nurse left you without much tenderness when she thought you dying of the same disease," said La Masque, quietly.

"Oh, that is nothing.The suddenness, the shock drove her to it.

My poor, dear Prudence."

"Well, you can do nothing for her now," said La Masque, in a tone of slight impatience."Prudence is beyond all human aid, and so - let her rest in peace.You were carried to the plague-pit yourself, for dead, were you not?""Yes," answered the pale lips, while she shivered all over at the recollection.

"And was saved by - by whom were you saved, my dear?""By two gentlemen."

"Oh, I know that; what were their names?""One was Mr.Ormiston, the other was," hesitating and blushing vividly, "Sir Norman Kingsley."La Masque leaned across her chair, and laid one dainty finger lightly on the girl's hot cheek.

"And for which is that blush, Leoline?"

"Madame, was it only to ask me questions you came here?" said Leoline, drawing proudly back, though the hot red spot grew hotter and redder; "if so, you will excuse my declining to answer any more.""Child, child!" said La Masque, in a tone so strangely sad that it touched Leoline, "do not be angry with me.It is no idle curiosity that sent me here at this hour to ask impertinent questions, but a claim that I have upon you, stronger than that of any one else in the world."Leoline's beautiful eyes opened wider yet.,"A claim upon me! How? Why? I do not understand.""All in good time.Will you tell me something of your past history, Leoline?""Madame Masque, I have no history to tell.All my life I have lived alone with Prudence; that in the whole of it in nine words."La Masque half laughed.

"Short, sharp, and decisive.Had you never father or mother?"There is a slight probability I may have had at some past period," said Leoline, sighing; "but none that I ever knew.""Why does not Prudence tell you?"

"Prudence is only my nurse, and says she has nothing to tell.My parents died when I was an infant, and left me in her care - that is her story.""A likely one enough, and yet I see by your face that you doubt it.""I do doubt it! There are a thousand little outward things that make me fancy it is false, and an inward voice that assures me it is so.""Then let me tell you that inward voice tells falsehoods, for Iknow that your father and mother are both dead these fourteen years!"Leoline's great black eyes were fixed on her face with a look so wild and eager, that La Masque laid her hand lightly and soothingly on her shoulder.

"Don't look at me with such a spectral face! What is there so extraordinary in all I have said?""You said you knew my father and mother.""No such thing! I said I knew they were dead, but the other fact is true also; I did know them when living!""Madame, who are you? Who were they?"

"I? Oh, I am La Masque, the sorceress, and they - they were Leoline's father and mother!" and again La Masque slightly laughed.