The Midnight Queen Part 36

"And did you see her?"

"Of course; and heard her too. She was dreadfully anxious to come with me; but that was out of the question."

"And how is she to be got away?"

"That I do not clearly see. We will have to bring a ladder, and there will be so much danger, and so little chance of success, that, to me it seems an almost hopeless task. Where did you meet Count L'Estrange?"

"Here; and he told me that he had abducted her, and held her a prisoner in his own house."

"He owned that did he? I wonder you were not fit to kill him?"

"So I was, at first, but he talked the matter over somehow."

And hereupon Sir Norman briefly and quickly rehea.r.s.ed the substance of their conversation. Hubert listened to it attentively, and laughed as he concluded.

"Well, I do not see that you can do otherwise, Sir Norman, and I think it would be wise to obey the count for to-night, at least. Then to-morrow--if things do not go on well, we can take the law in our own hands."

"Can we?" said Sir Norman, doubtfully, "I do wish you would tell me who this infernal count is, Hubert, for I am certain you know."

"Not until to-morrow--you shall know him then."

"To-morrow! to-morrow!" exclaimed Sir Norman, disconsolately.

"Everything is postponed until to-morrow! Oh, here comes the count back again. Are we going to start now, I wonder?"

"Is your friend to accompany us on our expedition?" inquired the count, standing before them. "It shall be quite as you say, Mr. Kingsley."

"My friend can do as he pleases. What do you say, Hubert?"

"I should like to go, of all things, if neither of you have any objections."

"Come on, then," said the count, "we will find horses in readiness a short distance from this."

The three started together, and walked on in silence through several streets, until they reached a retired inn, where the count's recent companion stood, with the horses. Count L'Estrange whispered a few words to him, upon which he bowed and retired; and in an instant they were all in the saddle, and galloping away.

The journey was rather a silent one, and what conversation there was, was princ.i.p.ally sustained by the count. Hubert's usual flow of pertinent chat seemed to have forsaken him, and Sir Norman had so many other things to think of--Leoline, Ormiston, Miranda, and the mysterious count himself--that he felt in no mood for talking. Soon, they left the city behind them; the succeeding two miles were quickly pa.s.sed over, and the "Golden Crown," all dark and forsaken, now hove in sight. As they reached this, and cantered up the road leading to the ruin, Sir Norman drew rein, and said:

"I think our best plan would be, to dismount, and lead our horses the rest of the way, and not incur any unnecessary danger by making a noise.

We can fasten them to these trees, where they will be at hand when we come out."

"Wait one moment," said the count, lifting his finger with a listening look. "Listen to that!"

It was a regular tramp of horses' hoofs, sounding in the silence like a charge of cavalry. While they looked, a troop of hors.e.m.e.n came galloping up, and came to a halt when they saw the count.

No words can depict the look of amazement Sir Norman's face wore; but Hubert betrayed not the least surprise. The count glanced at his companions with a significant smile, and riding back, held a brief colloquy with him who seemed the leader of the hors.e.m.e.n. He rode up to them, smiling still, and saying, as he pa.s.sed,

"Now then, Kingsley; lead on, and we will follow!"

"I go not one step further," said Sir Norman, firmly, "until I know who I am leading. Who are you, Count L'Estrange?"

The count looked at him, but did not answer. A warning hand--that of Hubert--grasped Sir Norman's arm; and Hubert's voice whispered hurriedly in his ear:

"Hush, for G.o.d's sake! It is the king!"

CHAPTER XX. AT THE PLAGUE-PIT.

The effect of the whisper was magical. Everything that had been dark before, became clear as noonday; and Sir Norman sat absolutely astounded at his own stupidity in not having found it out for himself before.

Every feature, notwithstanding the disguise of wig and beard, became perfectly familiar; and even through the well-a.s.sumed voice, he recognized the royal tones. It struck him all at once, and with it the fact of Leoline's increased danger. Count L'Estrange was a formidable rival, but King Charles of England was even more formidable.

Thought is quick--quicker than the electric telegraph or balloon traveling; and in two seconds the whole stated things, with all the attendant surprises and dangers, danced before his mind's eye like a panorama; and he comprehended the past, the present, and the future, before Hubert had uttered the last word of his whisper. He turned his eyes, with a very new and singular sensation, upon the quondam count, and found that gentlemen looking very hard at him, with, a preternaturally grave expression of countenance. Sir Norman knew well as anybody the varying moods of his royal counts.h.i.+p, and, notwithstanding his general good nature, it was not safe to trifle with him at all times; so he repressed every outward sign of emotion whatever, and resolved to treat him as Count L'Estrange until he should choose to sail under his own proper colors.

"Well," said the count, with unruffled eagerness, "and so you decline to go any further Sir Norman?"

Hubert's eye was fixed with a warning glance upon him, and Sir Norman composedly answered

"No, count; I do not absolutely decline; but before I do go any further, I should like to know by what right do you bring all these men here, and what are your intentions in so doing."

"And if I refuse to answer?"

"Then I refuse to move a step further in the business!" said Sir Norman, with decision.

"And why, my good friend? You surely can have no objection to anything that can be done against highwaymen and cut-throats."

"Right! I have no objections, but others may."

"Whom do you mean by others?"

"The king, for instance. His gracious majesty is whimsical at times; and who knows that he may take it into his royal head to involve us somehow with them. I know the adage, 'put not your trust in princes.'"

"Very good," said the count, with a slight and irrepressible smile; "your prudence is beyond all praise! But I think, in this matter I may safely promise to stand between you and the king's wrath. Look at those hors.e.m.e.n beyond you, and see if they do not wear the uniform of his majesty's own body-guard."

Sir Norman looked, and saw the dazzling of their splendid equipments glancing and glistening in the moonbeams.

"I see. Then you have the royal permission for all this?"

"You have said it. Now, most scrupulous of men, proceed!"

"Look there!" exclaimed Hubert, suddenly pointing to a corner of the rain. "Someone has seen us, and is going now to give the alarm."

"He shall miss it, though!" said Sir Norman, detecting, at the same instant, a dark figure getting through the broken doorway; and striking spurs into his horse, he was instantaneously beside it, out of the saddle, and had grasped the retreater by the shoulder.

"By your leave!" exclaimed Sir Norman. "Not quite so fast! Stand out here in the moonlight, until I see who you are."

"Let me go!" cried the man, grappling with his opponent. "I know who you are, and I swear you'll never see moonlight or sunlight again, if you do not instantly let me go."

Sir Norman recognized the voice with a perfect shout of delight.