第4章

In some ways it was very like the room they had left, being low, large, and square, and having floors, walls and ceiling paneled with glossy black oak.But it had no windows - a large bronze lamp, suspended from the centre of the ceiling, shed a flickering, ghostly light.There were no paintings - some grim carvings of skulls, skeletons, and serpents, pleasantly wreathed the room - neither were there seats nor tables - nothing but a huge ebony caldron at the upper end of the apartment, over which a grinning skeleton on wires, with a scythe in one hand of bone, and an hour-glass in the other, kept watch and ward.Opposite this cheerful-looking guardian, was a tall figure in black, standing an motionless as if it, too, was carved in ebony.It was a female figure, very tall and slight, but as beautifully symmetrical as a Venus Celestis.Her dress was of black velvet, that swept the polished floor, spangled all over with stars of gold and rich rubies.A profusion of shining black hair fell in waves and curls almost to her feet; but her face, from forehead to chin, was completely hidden by a black velvet mask.In one hand, exquisitely small and white, she held a gold casket, blazing (like her dress) with rubies, and with the other she toyed with a tame viper, that had twined itself round her wrist.

This was doubtless La Masque, and becoming conscious of that fact Sir Norman made her a low and courtly bow.She returned it by a slight bend of the head, and turning toward his companion, spoke"You here, again, Mr.Ormiston! To what am I indebted for the honor of two visits in two days?"Her voice, Sir Norman thought, was the sweetest he had ever heard, musical as a chime of silver bells, soft as the tones of an aeolian harp through which the west wind plays.

"Madam, I am aware my visits are undesired," said Ormiston, with a flushing cheek and, slightly tremulous voice; "but I have merely come with my friend, Sir Norman Kingsley, who wishes to know what the future has in store for him."Thus invoked, Sir Norman Kingsley stepped forward with another low bow to the masked lady.

"Yes, madam, I have long heard that those fair fingers can withdraw the curtain of the future, and I have come to see what Dame Destiny is going to do for me.""Sir Norman Kingsley is welcome," said the sweet voice, "and shall see what he desires.There is but one condition, that he will keep perfectly silent; for if he speaks, the scene he beholds will vanish.Come forward!"Sir Norman compressed his lips as closely am if they were forever hermetically sealed, and came forward accordingly.Leaning over the edge of the ebony caldron, he found that it contained nothing more dreadful than water, for he labored under a vague and unpleasant idea that, like the witches' caldron in Macbeth, it might be filled with serpents' blood and children's' brains.La Masque opened her golden casket, and took from it a portion of red powder, with which it was filled.Casting it into the caldron, she murmured an invocation in Sanscrit, or Coptic, or some other unknown tongue, and slowly there arose a dense cloud of dark-red smoke, that nearly filled the room.Had Sir Norman ever read the story of Aladdin, he would probably have thought of it then; but the young courtier did not greatly affect literature of any kind, and thought of nothing now but of seeing something when the smoke cleared away.It was rather long in doing so, and when it did, he saw nothing at first but his own handsome, half-serious, half-incredulous face; but gradually a picture, distinct and clear, formed itself at the bottom, and Sir Norman gazed with bewildered eyes.He saw a large room filled with a sparkling crowd, many of them ladies, splendidly arrayed and flashing in jewels, and foremost among them stood one whose beauty surpassed anything he had ever before dreamed of.She wore the robes of a queen, purple and ermine - diamonds blazed on the beautiful neck, arms, and fingers, and a tiara of the same brilliants crowned her regal head.In one hand she held a sceptre; what seemed to be a throne was behind her, but something that surprised Sir Norton most of all was, to find himself standing beside her, the cynosure of all eyes.While he yet gazed in mingled astonishment and incredulity, the scene faded away, and another took its place.This time a dungeon-cell, damp and dismal; walls, and floor, and ceiling covered with green and hideous slime.A small lamp stood on the floor, and by its sickly, watery gleam, he saw himself again standing, pale and dejected, near the wall.But he was not alone; the same glittering vision in purple and diamonds stood before him, and suddenly he drew his sword and plunged it up to the hilt in her heart! The beautiful vision fell like a stone at his feet, and the sword was drawn out reeking with her life-blood.This was a little too much for the real Sir Norman, and with an expression of indignant consternation, he sprang upright.Instantly it all faded away and the reflection of his own excited face looked up at him from the caldron.

"I told you not to speak," said La Masque, quietly, "but you must look on still another scene."Again she threw a portion of the contents of the casket into the caldron, and "spake aloud the words of power." Another cloud of smoke arose and filled the room, and when it cleared away, Sir Norman beheld a third and less startling sight.The scene and place he could not discover, but it seemed to him like night and a storm.Two men were lying on the ground, and bound fast together, it appeared to him.As he looked, it faded away, and once more his own face seemed to mock him in the clear water.

"Do you know those two last figures!" asked the lady.

"I do," said Sir Norman, promptly; "it was Ormiston and myself.""Right! and one of them was dead."

"Dead!" exclaimed Sir Norman, with a perceptible start."Which one, madam?""If you cannot tell that, neither can I.If there is anything further you wish to see, I am quite willing to show it to you.""I'm obliged to you," said Sir Norman, stepping back; "but no more at present, thank you.Do you mean to say, madam, that I'm some day to murder a lady, especially one so beautiful as she Ijust now saw?"

"I have said nothing - all you've seen will come to pass, and whether your destiny be for good or evil, I have nothing to do with it, except," said the sweet voice, earnestly, "that if La Masque could strew Sir Norman Kingsley's pathway with roses, she would most assuredly do so.""Madam, you are too kind," said that young gentleman, laying his hand on his heart, while Ormiston scowled darkly - "more especially as I've the misfortune to be a perfect stranger to you.""Not so, Sir Norman.I have known you this many a day; and before long we shall be better acquainted.Permit me to wish you good evening!"At this gentle hint, both gentlemen bowed themselves out, and soon found themselves in the street, with very different expressions of countenance.Sir Norman looking considerably pleased and decidedly puzzled, and Mr.Ormiston looking savagely and uncompromisingly jealous.The animated skeleton who had admitted them closed the door after them; and the two friends stood in the twilight on London Bridge.