As the last glimpse of moonlight and of Hubert's bright face vanished,
Leoline took to pacing up and down the room in a most conflicting and
excited state of mind. So many things had happened during the past
night; so rapid and unprecedented had been the course of events; so
changed had her whole life become within the last twelve hours, that
when she came to think it all over, it fairly made her giddy. Dressing
for her bridal; the terrible announcement of Prudence; the death-like
swoon; the awakening at the plague-pit; the maniac flight through the
streets; the cold plunge in the river; her rescue; her interview with
Sir Norman, and her promise; the visit of La Masque; the appearance of
the count; her abduction; her journey here; the coming of Hubert, and
their suddenly-discovered relationship. It was enough to stun any one;
and the end was not yet. Would Hubert effect his escape? Would they be
able to free her? What place was this, and who was Count L'Estrange? It
was a great deal easier to propound this catechism to herself than
to find answers to her own questions; and so she walked up and down,
worrying her pretty little head with all sorts of anxieties, until it
was a perfect miracle that softening of the brain did not ensue.
Her feet gave out sooner than her brain, though; and she got so tired
before long, that she dropped into a seat, with a long-drawn, anxious
sigh; and, worn out with fatigue and watching, she, at last, fell
asleep.
And sleeping, she dreamed. It seemed to her that the count and Sir
Norman were before her, in her chamber in the old house on London
Bridge, tossing her heart between them like a sort of shuttlecock.
By-and-by, with two things like two drumsticks, they began hammering
away at the poor, little, fluttering heart, as if it were an anvil and
they were a pair of blacksmiths, while the loud knocks upon it resounded
through the room. For a time, she was so bewildered that she could not
comprehend what it meant; but, at last, she became conscious that some
one was rapping at the door. Pressing one hand over her startled heart,
she called "Come in!" and the door opened and George entered.
"Count L'Estrange commands me to inform you, fair lady, that he will
do himself the pleasure of visiting you immediately, with Sir Norman
Kingsley, if you are prepared to receive them."
"With Sir Norman Kingsley!" repeated Leoline, faintly. "I-I am afraid I
do not quite understand."