Prudence fidgeted, and looked rather uneasy.
"Why, madame, she was not exactly forced, perhaps; but you know--you know you told me--"
"Well?" said La Masque, coldly.
"To do what I could," cried Prudence, in a sort of desperation; "and I did it, madame, and hara.s.sed her about it night and day. And then the count was there, too, coaxing and entreating; and he was handsome and had such ways with him that no woman could resist, much less one so little used to gentlemen as Leoline. And so, Madame Masque, we kept at her till we got her to consent to it at last; but in her secret heart, I know she did not want to be married--at least to the count," said Prudence, on serious afterthought.
"Well, well; that has nothing to do with it. The question is, where is she to be found?"
"Found!" echoed Prudence; "has she then been lost?"
"Of coa.r.s.e she has, you old simpleton! How could she help it, and she dead, with no one to look after her?" said La Masque, with something like a half laugh. "She was carried to the plague-pit in her bridal-robes, jewels and lace; and, when about to be thrown in, was discovered, like Moses is the bulrushes, to be all alive."
"Well," whispered Prudence, breathlessly.
"Well, O most courageous of guardians! she was carried to a certain house, and left to her own devices, while her gallant rescuer went for a doctor; and when they returned she was missing. Our pretty Leoline seems to have a strong fancy for getting lost!"
There was a pause, during which Prudence looked at her with a face full of mingled fear and curiosity. At last:
"Madame, how do you know all this? Were you there?"
"No. Not I, indeed! What would take me there?"
"Then how do you happen to know everything about it?"
La Masque laughed.
"A little bird told me, Prudence! Have you returned to resume your old duties?"
"Madame, I dare not go into that house again. I am afraid of taking the plague."
"Prudence, you are a perfect idiot! Are you not liable to take the plague in the remotest quarter of this plague-infested city? And even if you do take it, what odds? You have only a few years to live, at the most, and what matter whether you die now or at the end of a year or two?"
"What matter?" repeated Prudence, in a high key of indignant amazement.
"It may make no matter to you, Madame Masque, but it makes a great deal to me; I can tell you; and into that infected house I"ll not put one foot."
"Just as you please, only in that case there is no need for further talk, so allow me to bid you good-night!"
"But, madame, what of Leoline? Do stop one moment and tell me of her."
"What have I to tell? I have told you all I know. If you want to find her, you must search in the city or in the pest-house!"
Prudence shuddered, and covered her face with her hands.
"O, my poor darling! so good and so beautiful. Heaven might surely have spared her! Are you going to do nothing farther about it?"
"What can I do? I have searched for her and have not found her, and what else remains?"
"Madame, you know everything--surely, surely you know where my poor little nursling is, among the rest."
Again La Masque laughed--another of her low, sweet, derisive laughs.
"No such thing, Prudence. If I did, I should have her here in a twinkling, depend upon--it. However, it all comes to the same thing in the end. She is probably dead by this time, and would have to be buried in the plague-pit, anyhow. If you have nothing further to say, Prudence, you had better bid me good-night, and let me go."
"Good-night, madame!" said Prudence, with a sort of groan, as she wrapped her cloak closely around her, and turned to go.
La Masque stood for a moment looking after her, and then placed a key in the lock of the door. But there is many a slip--she was not fated to enter as soon as she thought; for just at that moment a new step sounded beside her, a new voice p.r.o.nounced her name, and looking around, she beheld Ormiston. With what feelings that young person had listened to the neat and appropriate dialogue I have just had the pleasure of immortalizing, may be--to use a phrase you may have heard before, once or twice--better imagined than described. He knew very well who Leoline was, and how she had been saved from the plague-pit; but where in the world had La Masque found it out. Lost in a maze of wonder, and inclined to doubt the evidence of his own ears, he had stood perfectly still, until his ladylove had so coolly dismissed her company, and then rousing himself just in time, he had come forward and accosted her. La Masque turned round, regarded him in silence for a moment, and when she spoke, her voice had an accent of mingled surprise and displeasure.
"You, Mr. Ormiston! How many more times am I to have the pleasure of seeing you again to-night?"
"Pardon, madame; it is the last time. But you must hear me now."
"Must I? Very well, then; if I must, you had better begin at once, for the night-air is said to be unhealthy, and as good people are scarce, I want to take care of myself."
"In that case, perhaps you had better let me enter, too. I hate to talk on the street, for every wall has ears."
"I am aware of that. When I was talking to my old friend, Prudence, two minutes ago, I saw a tall shape that I have reason to know, since it haunts me, like my own shadow, standing there and paying deed attention.
I hope you found our conversation interesting, Mr. Ormiston!"
"Madame!" began Ormiston, turning crimson.
"Oh, don"t blush; there is quite light enough from yonder lamp to show that. Besides," added the lady, easily, "I don"t know as I had any objection; you are interested in Leoline, and must feel curious to know something about her."
"Madame, what must you think of me? I have acted unpardonably."
"Oh, I know all that. There is no need to apologize, and I don"t think any the worse of you for it. Will you come to business, Mr. Ormiston?
I think I told you I wanted to go in. What may you want of me at this dismal hour?"
"O madame, need you ask! Does not your own heart tell you?"
"I am not aware that it does! And to tell you the truth, Mr. Ormiston, I don"t know that I even have a heart! I am afraid I must trouble you to put it in words."
"Then, madame, I love you!"
"Is that all? If my memory serves me, you have told me that little fact several times before. Is there anything else tormenting you, or may I go in?"
Ormiston groaned out an oath between his teeth, and La Masque raised one jeweled, snowy taper finger, reprovingly.
"Don"t Mr. Ormiston--it"s naughty, you know! May I go in?"
"Madame, you are enough to drive a man mad. Is the love I bear you worthy of nothing but mockery!"
"No, Mr. Ormiston, it is not; that is, supposing you really love me, which you don"t."
"Madame!"
"Oh, you needn"t flash and look indignant; it is quite true! Don"t be absurd, Mr. Ormiston. How is it possible for you to love one you have never seen?"