The Midnight Queen | Page 9

that young gentleman, laying his hand
on his heart, while Ormiston scowled darkly - "more especially as I've
the misfortune to be a perfect stranger to you."
"Not so, Sir Norman. I have known you this many a day; and before
long we shall be better acquainted. Permit me to wish you good
evening!"

At this gentle hint, both gentlemen bowed themselves out, and soon
found themselves in the street, with very different expressions of
countenance. Sir Norman looking considerably pleased and decidedly
puzzled, and Mr. Ormiston looking savagely and uncompromisingly
jealous. The animated skeleton who had admitted them closed the door
after them; and the two friends stood in the twilight on London Bridge.

CHAPTER II.
THE DEAD BRIDE
"Well," said Ormiston, drawing a long bath, "what do you think of
that?"
"Think? Don't ask me yet." said Sir Norman, looking rather bewildered.
"I'm in such a state of mystification that I don't rightly know whether
I'm standing on my head or feet. For one thing, I have come to the
conclusion that your masked ladylove must be enchantingly beautiful."
"Have I not told you that a thousand times, O thou of little faith? But
why have you come to such a conclusion?"
"Because no woman with such a figure, such a voice and such hands
could be otherwise."
"I knew you would own it some day. Do you wonder now that I love
her?"
"Oh! as to loving her," said Sir Norman, coolly, "that's quite another
thing. I could no more love her or her hands, voice, and shape, than I
could a figure in wood or wax; but I admire her vastly, and think her
extremely clever. I will never forget that face in the caldron. It was the
most exquisitely beautiful I ever saw."
"In love with the shadow of a face! Why, you are a thousand-fold more
absurd than I."

"No," said Sir Norman, thoughtfully, "I don't know as I'm in love with
it; but if ever I see a living face like it, I certainly shall be. How did La
Masque do it, I wonder?"
"You had better ask her," said Ormiston, bitterly. "She seems to have
taken an unusual interest in you at first sight. She would strew your
path with roses, forsooth! Nothing earthly, I believe, would make her
say anything half so tender to me."
Sir Norman laughed, and stroked his moustache complacently.
"All a matter of taste, my dear fellow: and these women are noted for
their perfection in that line. I begin to admire La Masque more and
more, and I think you had better give up the chase, and let me take your
place. I don't believe you have the ghost of a chance, Ormiston."
"I don't believe it myself," said Ormiston, with a desperate face "but
until the plague carries me off I cannot give her up; and the sooner that
happens, the better. Ha! what is this?"
It was a piercing shriek - no unusual sound; and as he spoke, the door
of an adjoining house was flung open, a woman rushed wildly out, fled
down an adjoining street, and disappeared.
Sir Norman and his companion looked at each other, and then at the
house.
"What's all this about?" demanded Ormiston.
"That's a question I can't take it upon myself to answer," said Sir
Norman; "and the only way to solve the mystery, is to go in and see."
"It may be the plague," said Ormiston, hesitating. "Yet the house is not
marked. There is a watchman. I will ask him."
The man with the halberd in his hand was walking up and down before
an adjoining house, bearing the ominous red cross and piteous
inscription: "Lord have mercy on us!"

"I don't know, sir," was his answer to Ormiston. "If any one there has
the plague, they must have taken it lately; for I heard this morning there
was to be a wedding there to-night."
"I never heard of any one screaming in that fashion about a wedding,"
said Ormiston, doubtfully. "Do you know who lives there?"
"No, sir. I only came here, myself, yesterday, but two or three times
to-day I have seen a very beautiful young lady looking out of the
window."
Ormiston thanked the man, and went back to report to his friend.
"A beautiful young lady!" said Sir Norman, with energy. "Then I mean
to go directly up and see about it, and you can follow or not, just as you
please."
So saying, Sir Norman entered the open doorway, and found himself in
a long hall, flanked by a couple of doors on each side. These he opened
in rapid succession, finding nothing but silence and solitude; and
Ormiston - who, upon reflection, chose to follow - ran up a wide and