CHAPTER III. THE COURT PAGE
The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took hishat and disappeared. Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower halland looked at each other in mute amaze.
"What can it all mean?" asked Ormiston, appealing more to society atlarge than to his bewildered companion.
"I haven't the faintest idea," said Sir Norman, distractedly; "only I ampretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperatethat the plague will be a trifle compared to it!"
"It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn'tit?"
"If she has!" exclaimed Sir Norman, "and I find out the abductor, hewon't have a whole bone in his body two minutes after!"
"And yet more impossible that she can have gone off herself," pursuedOrmiston with the air of one entering upon an abstruse subject, andtaking no heed whatever of his companion's marginal notes.
"Gone off herself! Is the man crazy?" inquired Sir Norman, with a stare."Fifteen minutes before we left her dead, or in a dead swoon, which isall the same in Greek, and yet he talks of her getting up and going offherself!"
"In fact, the only way to get at the bottom of the mystery," saidOrmiston, "is to go in search of her. Sleeping, I suppose, is out of thequestion."
"Of course it is! I shall never sleep again till I find her!"
They passed out, and Sir Norman this time took the precaution of turningthe key, thereby fulfilling the adage of locking the stable-door whenthe steed was stolen. The night had grown darker and hotter; and as theywalked along, the clock of St. Paul's tolled nine.
"And now, where shall we go?" inquired Sir Norman, as they rapidlyhurried on.
"I should recommend visiting the house we found her first; if not there,then we can try the pest-house."
Sir Norman shuddered.
"Heaven forefend she should be there! It is the most mysterious thingever I heard of!"
"What do you think now of La Masque's prediction--dare you doubt still?"
"Ormiston, I don't know what to think. It is the same face I saw, andyet--"
"Well--and yet--"
"I can't tell you--I am fairly bewildered. If we don't find the lady ather own house, I have half a mind to apply to your friend, La Masque,again."
"The wisest thing you could do, my dear fellow. If any one knows yourunfortunate beloved's whereabouts, it is La Masque, depend upon it."
"That's settled then; and now, don't talk, for conversation at thissmart pace I don't admire."
Ormiston, like the amiable, obedient young man that he was, instantlyheld his tongue, and they strode along at a breathless pace. There wasan unusual concourse of men abroad that night, watching the gloomy faceof the sky, and waiting the hour of midnight to kindle the myriad offires; and as the two tall, dark figures went rapidly by, all supposedit to be a case of life or death. In the eyes of one of the party,perhaps it was; and neither halted till they came once more in sightof the house, whence a short time previously they had carried thedeath-cold bride. A row of lamps over the door-portals shed a yellow,uncertain light around, while the lights of barges and wherries weresown like stars along the river.
"There is the house," cried Ormiston, and both paused to take breath;"and I am about at the last gasp. I wonder if your pretty mistress wouldfeel grateful if she knew what I have come through to-night for hersweet sake?"
"There are no lights," said Sir Norman, glancing anxiously up at thedarkened front of the house; "even the link before the door is unlit.Surely she cannot be there."
"That remains to be seen, though I'm very doubtful about it myself. Ah!whom have we here?"
The door of the house in question opened, as he spoke, and a figure--aman's figure, wearing a slouched hat and long, dark cloak, came slowlyout. He stopped before the house and looked at it long and earnestly;and, by the twinkling light of the lamps, the friends saw enough of himto know he was young and distinguished looking.
"I should not wonder in the least if that were the bridegroom,"whispered Ormiston, maliciously.
Sir Norman turned pale with jealousy, and laid his hand on his sword,with a quick and natural impulse to make the bride a widow forthwith.But he checked the desire for an instant as the brigandish-lookinggentleman, after a prolonged stare at the premises, stepped up to thewatchman, who had given them their information an hour or two before,and who was still at his post. The friends could not be seen, but theycould hear, and they did so very earnestly indeed.
"Can you tell me, my friend," began the cloaked unknown, "what hasbecome of the people residing in yonder house?"
The watchman, held his lamp up to the face of the interlocutor--ahandsome face by the way, what could be seen of it--and indulged himselfin a prolonged survey.
"Well!" said the gentleman, impatiently, "have you no tongue, fellow?Where are they, I say?"
"Blessed if I know," said the watchman. "I, wasn't set here to keepguard over them was I? It looks like it, though," said the man inparenthesis; "for this makes twice to-night I've been asked questionsabout it."
"Ah!" said the gentleman, with a slight start. "Who asked you before,pray?"
"Two young gentlemen; lords, I expect, by their dress. Somebody ranscreaming out of the house, and they wanted to know what was wrong."
"Well?" said the stranger, breathlessly, "and then?"
"And then, as I couldn't tell them they went in to see for themselves,and shortly after came out with a body wrapped in a sheet, which theyput in a pest-cart going by, and had it buried, I suppose, with the restin the plague-pit."
The stranger fairly staggered back, and caught at a pillar near forsupport. For nearly ten minutes, he stood perfectly motionless, andthen, without a word, started up and walked rapidly away. The friendslooked after him curiously till he was out of sight.
"So she is not there," said Ormiston; "and our mysterious friend inthe cloak is as much at a loss as we are ourselves. Where shall we gonext--to La Masque or the peat-house?"
"To La Masque--I hate the idea of the pest-house!"
"She may be there, nevertheless; and under present circumstances, it isthe best place for her."
"Don't talk of it!" said Sir Norman, impatiently. "I do not and will notbelieve she is there! If the sorceress shows her to me in the caldronagain, I verily believe I shall jump in head foremost."
"And I verily believe we will not find La Masque at home. She wandersthrough the streets at all hours, but particularly affects the night."
"We shall try, however. Come along!"
The house of the sorceress was but a short distance from that ofSir Norman's plague-stricken lady-love's; and shod with a sort ofseven-league boots, they soon reached it. Like the other, it was alldark and deserted.
"This is the home," said Ormiston, looking at it doubtfully, "but whereis La Masque?"
"Here!" said a silvery voice at his elbow; and turning round, they sawa tall, slender figure, cloaked, hooded, and masked. "Surely, you two donot want me again to-night?"
Both gentlemen doffed their plumed hats, and simultaneously bowed.
"Fortune favors us," said Sir Norman. "Yes, madam, it is even so; onceagain to-night we would tax your skill."
"Well, what do you wish to know?"
"Madam, we are in the street."
"Sir, I'm aware of that. Pray proceed."
"Will you not have the goodness to permit us to enter?" said Sir Norman,inclined to feel offended. "How can you tell us what we wish to know,here?"
"That is my secret," said the sweet voice. "Probably Sir Norman Kingsleywishes to know something of the fair lady I showed him some time ago?"
"Madam, you've guessed it. It is for that purpose I have sought younow."
"Then you have seen her already?"
"I have."
"And love her?"
"With all my heart!"
"A rapid flame," said the musical voice, in a tone that had just athought of sarcasm; "for one of whose very existence you did no
t dreamtwo hours ago."
"Madame La Masque," said Norman, flushed sad haughty, "love is not aquestion of time."
"Sir Norman Kingsley," said the lady, somewhat sadly, "I am aware ofthat. Tell me what you wish to know, and if it be in my power, you shallknow it."
"A thousand thanks! Tell me, then, is she whom I seek living or dead?"
"She is alive."
"She has the plague?" said Sir Norman.
"I know it."
"Will she recover?"
"She will."
"Where is she now?"
La Masque hesitated and seemed uncertain whether or not to reply, SirNorman passionately broke in:
"Tell me, madam, for I must know!"
"Then you shall; but, remember, if you get into danger, you must notblame me."
"Blame you! No, I think I would hardly do that. Where am I to seek forher?"
"Two miles from London beyond Newgate," said the mask. "There stand theruins of what was long ago a hunting-lodge, now a crumbling skeleton,roofless and windowless, and said, by rumor, to be haunted. Perhaps youhave seen or heard of it?"
"I have seen it a hundred times," broke in Sir Norman. "Surely, you donot mean to say she is there?"
"Go there, and you will see. Go there to-night, and lose no time--thatis, supposing you can procure a license."
"I have one already. I have a pass from the Lord Mayor to come and gofrom the city when I please."
"Good! Then you'll go to-night."
"I will go. I might as well do that as anything else, I suppose; but itis quite impossible," said Sir Norman, firmly, not to say obstinately,"that she can be there."
"Very well you'll see. You had better go on horseback, if you desire tobe back in time to witness the illumination."
"I don't particularly desire to see the illumination, as I know of; butI will ride, nevertheless. What am I to do when I get there?"
"You will enter the ruins, and go on till you discover a spiralstaircase leading to what was once the vaults. The flags of these vaultsare loose from age, and if you should desire to remove any of them, youwill probably not find it an impossibility."
"Why should I desire to remove them?" asked Sir Norman, who feltdubious, and disappointed, and inclined to be dogmatical.
"Why, you may see a glimmering of light--hear strange noises; and ifyou remove the stones, may possibly see strange sights. As I told youbefore, it is rumored to be haunted, which is true enough, though not inthe way they suspect; and so the fools and the common herd stay away."
"And if I am discovered peeping like a rascally valet, what will be theconsequences?"
"Very unpleasant ones to you; but you need not be discovered if you takecare. Ah! Look there!"
She pointed to the river, and both her companions looked. A barge gaylypainted and gilded, with a light in prow and stern, came gliding upamong less pretentious craft, and stopped at the foot of a flight ofstairs leading to the bridge. It contained four persons--the oarsman,two cavaliers sitting in the stern, and a lad in the rich livery of acourt-page in the act of springing out. Nothing very wonderful in allthis; and Sir Norman and Ormiston looked at her for an explanation.
"Do you know those two gentlemen?" she asked.
"Certainly," replied Sir Norman, promptly; "one is the Duke of York, theother the Earl of Rochester."
"And that page, to which of them does he belong?"
"The page!" said Sir Norman, with a stare, as he leaned forward to look;"pray, madam, what has the page to do with it?"
"Look and see!"
The two peers has ascended the stairs, and were already on the bridge.The page loitered behind, talking, as it seemed, to the waterman.
"He wears the livery of the Earl of Rochester," said Ormiston, speakingfor the first time, "but I cannot see his face."
"He will follow presently, and be sure you see it then! Possibly you maynot find it entirely new to you."
She drew back into the shadow as she spoke; and the two nobles, as theyadvanced, talking earnestly, beheld Sir Norman and Ormiston. Both raisedtheir hats with a look of recognition, and the salute was courteouslyreturned by the others.
"Good-night, gentlemen," said Lord Rochester; "a hot evening, is it not?Have you come here to witness the illumination?"
"Hardly," said Sir Norman; "we have come for a very different purpose,my lord."
"The fires will have one good effect," said Ormiston laughing; "if theyclear the air and drive away this stifling atmosphere."
"Pray God they drive away the plague!" said the Duke of York, as he andhis companion passed from view.
The page sprang up the stairs after them, humming as he came, one of hismaster's love ditties--songs, saith tradition, savoring anything butthe odor of sanctity. With the warning of La Masque fresh in their mind,both looked at him earnestly. His gay livery was that of Lord Rochester,and became his graceful figure well, as he marched along with a jauntyswagger, one hand on his aide, and the other toying with a beautifullittle spaniel, that frisked in open violation of the Lord Mayor'sorders, commanding all dogs, great and small, to be put to death aspropagators of the pestilence. In passing, the lad turned his facetoward them for a moment--a bright, saucy, handsome face it was--and thenext instant he went round an angle and disappeared. Ormiston suppressedan oath. Sir Norman stifled a cry of amazement--for both recognizedthat beautiful colorless face, those perfect features, and great, black,lustrous eyes. It was the face of the lady they had saved from theplague-pit!
"Am I sane or mad?" inquired Sir Norman, looking helplessly about himfor information. "Surely that is she we are in search of."
"It certainly is!" said Ormiston. "Where are the wonders of this nightto end?"
"Satan and La Masque only know; for they both seem to have united todrive me mad. Where is she?"
"Where, indeed?" said Ormiston; "where is last year's snow?" And SirNorman, looking round at the spot where she had stood a moment before,found that she, too, had disappeared.