"I beg your pardon, my lord, I said no such thing. I told you she had
escaped from her friends, which was strictly true."
"Then how the demon had you the impudence to come up and carry her off
in that style? I certainly had a better right to her than you--the right
of discovery; and I shall call upon you to deliver her up!"
"If she belonged to me I should only be too happy to oblige your
lordship," laughed Ormiston; "but she is at present the property of Sir
Norman Kingsley, and to him you must apply."
"Ah! His inamorata, in she? Well, I must say his taste is excellent; but
I should think you ought to know her name, since you and he are noted
for being a modern Damon and Pythias."
"Probably I should, my lord, only Sir Norman, unfortunately, does not
know himself."
The earl's countenance looked so utterly blank at this announcement,
that Ormiston was forced to throw in a word of explanation.
"I mean to say, my lord, that he has fallen in love with her; and,
judging from appearances, I should say his flame is not altogether
hopeless, although they have met to-night for the first time."
"A rapid passion. Where have you left her, Ormiston?"
"In her own house, my lord," Ormiston replied, smiling quietly to
himself.
"Where is that?"
"About a dozen yards from where I stood when you called me."
"Who are her family?" continued the earl, who seemed possessed of a
devouring curiosity.
"She has none that I know of. I imagine Mistress Leoline is an orphan.
I know there was not a living soul but ourselves in the house I brought
her to."
"And you left her there alone?" exclaimed the earl, half starting up, an
if about to order the boatman to row back to the landing.
Ormiston looked at his excited face with a glance full of quiet malice.
"No, my lord, not quits; Sir Norman Kingsley was with her!"
"Oh!" said the earl, smiling back with a look of chagrin. "Then he will
probably find out her name before he comes away. I wonder you could give
her up so easily to him, after all your trouble!"
"Smitten, my lord?" inquired Ormiston, maliciously.
"Hopelessly!" replied the earl, with a deep sigh. "She was a perfect
little beauty; and if I can find her, I warn Sir Norman Kingsley to take
care! I have already sent Hubert out in search of her; and, by the way,"
said the earl, with a sudden increase of animation, "what a wonderful
resemblance she bears to Hubert--I could almost swear they were one and
the same!"
"The likeness is marvelous; but I should hate to take such an oath. I
confess I am somewhat curious myself; but I stand no chance of having it
gratified before to-morrow, I suppose."