Fifteen minutes after leaving his own house,
Sir Norman was back there again, and standing in his own chamber.
But a simultaneous exclamation of amazement and consternation
broke from him and Ormiston, as on entering the room they found
the bed empty, and the lady gone!
A dead pause followed, during which the three looked blankly at
the bed, and then at each other. The scene, no doubt, would have
been ludicrous enough to a third party; but neither of our trio
could saw anything whatever to laugh at. Ormiston was the first
to speak.
"What in Heaven's name has happened!" he wonderingly exclaimed.
"Some one has been here," said Sir Norman, turning very pale,
"and carried her off while we were gone."
"Let us search the house," said the doctor; "you should have
locked your door, Sir Norman; but it may not be too late yet."
Acting on the hint, Sir Norman seized the lamp burning on the
table, and started on the search. His two friends followed him,
and
"The highest, the lowest, the loveliest spot,
They searched for the lady, and found her not."
No, though there was not the slightest trace of robbers or
intruders, neither was there the slightest trace of the beautiful
plague-patient.
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