"Your secret shall be preserved at the risk of my life," said Sir
Norman, laying his hand on the left side of his doublet; "and in return,
may I ask if you have any relatives living--any sisters for instance?"
"I see I you have a suspicion that the lady in white may be a sister of
mine. Well, you may set your mind at rest on that point--for if she is,
it is news to me, as I never saw her in my life before tonight. Is she a
particular friend of yours, Sir Norman?"
"Never you mind that, my dear boy; but take my advice, and don't trouble
yourself looking for her; for, most assuredly, if you find her, I shall
break your head!"
"Much obliged," said Hubert, touching his cap, "but nevertheless, I
shall risk it. She had the plague, though, when she jumped into the
river, and perhaps the beat place to find her world be the pest-house. I
shall try."
"Go, and Heaven speed you! Yonder is the way to it, and my road lies
here. Good night, master Hubert."
"Good night, Sir Norman," responded the page, bowing airily; "and if I
do not find the lady to-night, most assuredly I shall do so to-morrow."
Turning along a road leading to the pest-house, and laughing as he
went, the boy disappeared. Fearing lest the page should follow him, and
thereby discover a clue to Leoline's abode, Sir Norman turned into a
street some distance from the house, and waited in the shadow until he
was out of sight. Then he came forth, and, full of impatience to get
back to the ruin, hurried on to where he had left his horse. He was
still in the care of the watchman, whom he repaid for his trouble; and
as he sprang on his back, he glanced up at the windows of Leoline's
house. It was all buried in profound darkness but that one window from
which that faint light streamed, and he knew that she had not yet gone
to rest. For a moment he lingered and looked at it in the absurd way
lovers will look, and was presently rewarded by seeing what he watched
for--a shadow flit between him and the light. The sight was a strong
temptation to him to dismount and enter, and, under pretence of warning
her against the Earl of Rochester and his "pretty page," see her
once again. But reflection, stepping rebukingly up to him, whispered
indignantly, that his ladylove was probably by this time in her night
robe, and not at home to lovers; and Sir Norman respectfully bowed to
reflection's superior wisdom. He thought of Hubert's words, "If I do
not find her tonight, I shall most assuredly to-morrow," and a chill
presentiment of coming evil fell upon him.