第82章

"Sir Norman Kingsley, I am dying, and my last words are in thanksgiving to you for having thus avenged me!""Let me hope you have many days to live yet, fair lady," said Sir Norman, with the same feeling of repulsion he had experienced in the dungeon."I am sorry you have been obliged to witness this terrible scene.""Sorry!" she cried, fiercely."Why, since the first hour Iremember at all, I remember nothing that has given me such joy as what has passed now; my only regret is that I did not see them all die before my eyes! Sorry! I tell you I would not have missed it for ten thousand worlds!""Madame, you must not talk like this!" said Sir Norman, almost sternly."Heaven forbid there should exist a woman who could rejoice in bloodshed and death.You do not, I know.You wrong yourself and your own nature in saying so.Be calm, now; do not excite yourself.You shall come with us, and be properly cared for; and I feel certain you have a long and happy life before you yet.""Who are those men?" she said, not heeding him, "and who - ah, great Heaven! What is that?"In looking round, she had met Hubert face to face.She knew that that face was her own; and, with a horror stamped on every feature that no words can depict, she fell back, with a terrible scream and was dead!

Sir Norman was so shocked by the suddenness of the last catastrophe, that, for some time, he could not realize that she had actually expired, until he bent over her, and placed his ear to her lips.No breath was there; no pulse stirred in that fierce heart - the Midnight Queen was indeed dead!

"Oh, this is fearful!" exclaimed Sir Norman, pale and horrified.

"The sight of Hubert, and his wonderful resemblance to her, has completed what her wound and this excitement began.Her last is breathed on earth!""Peace be with her!" said the count, removing his hat, which, up to the present, he had worn."And now, Sir Norman, if we are to keep our engagement at sunrise, we had better be on the move;for, unless I am greatly mistaken, the sky is already grey with day-dawn.""What are your commands?" asked Sir Norman, turning away, with a sigh, from the beautiful form already stiffening in death.

"That you come with me to seek out those frightened fair ones, who are a great deal too lovely to share the fate of their male companions.I shall give them their liberty to go where they please, on condition that they do not enter the city.We have enough vile of their class there already."Sir Norman silently followed him into the azure and silver saloon, where the crowd of duchesses and countesses were "weeping and wringing their hands," and as white as so many pretty ghosts.

In a somewhat brief and forcible manner, considering his characteristic gallantry, the count made his proposal, which, with feelings of pleasure and relief, was at once acceded to; and the two gentlemen bowed themselves out, and left the startled ladies.

On returning to the crimson court, he commanded a number of his soldiers to remain and bury the dead, and assist the wounded; and then, followed by the remainder and the prisoners under their charge, passed out, and were soon from the heated atmosphere in the cool morning air.The moon was still serenely shining, but the stars that kept the earliest hours were setting, and the eastern sky was growing light with the hazy gray of coming morn.

"I told you day-dawn was at hand," said the count, as he sprang into his saddle; "and, lo! in the sky it is gray already.""It is time for it!" said Sir Norman, as he, too, got into his seat; "this has been the longest night I have ever known, and the most eventful one of my life.""And the end is not yet! Leoline waits to decide between us!"Sir Norman shrugged his shoulders.

"True! But I have little doubt what that decision will be! Ipresume you will have to deliver up your prisoners before you can visit her, and I will avail myself of the opportunity to snatch a few moments to fulfill a melancholy duty of my own.""As you please.I have no objection; but in that case you will need some one to guide you to the place of rendezvous; so I will order my private attendant, yonder, to keep you in sight, and guide you to me when your business is ended."The count had given the order to start, the moment they had left the ruin, and the conversation had been carried on while riding at a break-neck gallop.Sir Norman thanked him for his offer, and they rode in silence until they reached the city, and their paths diverged; Sir Norman's leading to the apothecary's shop where be had left Ormiston, and the count's leading - he best knew where.George - the attendant referred to - joined the knight, and leaving his horse in his care, Sir Norman entered the shop, and encountered the spectral proprietor at the door.

"What of my friend?" was his eager inquiry."Has he yet shown signs of returning consciousness?""Alas, no!" replied the apothecary, with a groan, that came wailing up like a whistle; "he was so excessively dead, that there was no use keeping him; and as the room was wanted for other purposes, I - pray, my dear sir, don't look so violent - Iput him in the pest-cart and had him buried.""In the plague-pit!" shouted Sir Norman, making a spring at him;but the man darted off like a ghostly flash into the inner room, and closed and bolted the door in a twinkling.

Sir Norman kicked at it spitefully, but it resisted his every effort; and, overcoming a strong temptation to smash every bottle in the shop, he sprang once more into the saddle, and rode off to the plague-pit.It was the second time within the last twelve hours he had stood there; and, on the previous occasion, he who now lay in it, had stood by his side.He looked down, sickened and horror-struck.Perhaps, before another morning, he, too, might be there; and, feeling his blood run cold at the thought, he was turning away, when some one came rapidly up, and sank down with a moaning gasping cry on its very edge.That shape - tall and slender, and graceful - he well knew; and, leaning over her, ho laid his hand on her shoulder, and exclaimed:

"La Masque!"