Another figure came forth from
the shadow of an opposite house, and softly pronounced her name.
It was a short figure - a woman's figure. He could not see the
face, and that was an immense relief to him, and prevented his
having jealousy added to his other pains sad tribulations. La
Masque paused as well as he, and her soft voice softly asked:
"Who calls?"
"It is I, madame - Prudence."
"Ah! I am glad to meet you. I have been searching the city
through for you. Where have you been?"
"Madame, I was so frightened that I don't know where I fled to,
and I could scarcely make up my mind to come back at all. I did
feel dreadfully sorry for her, poor thing! but you know, Madame
Masque, I could do nothing for her, and I should not have come
back, only I was afraid of you."
"You did wrong, Prudence," said La Masque, sternly, or at least
as sternly as so sweet a voice could speak; "you did very wrong
to leave her in such a way. You should have come to me at once,
and told me all."
"But, madame, I was so frightened!"
"Bah! You are nothing but a coward. Come into this doorway, and
tell me all about it."
Ormiston drew back as the twain approached, and entered the deep
portals of La Masque's own doorway.
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