If you have nothing
further to say, Prudence, you had better bid me good-night, and
let me go."
"Good-night, madame!" said Prudence, with a sort of groan, as she
wrapped her cloak closely around her, and turned to go.
La Masque stood for a moment looking after her, and then placed a
key in the lock of the door. But there is many a slip - she was
not fated to enter as soon as she thought; for just at that
moment a new step sounded beside her, a new voice pronounced her
name, and looking around, she beheld Ormiston. With what
feelings that young person had listened to the neat and
appropriate dialogue I have just had the pleasure of
immortalizing, may be - to use a phrase you may have heard
before, once or twice - better imagined than described. He knew
very well who Leoline was, and how she had been saved from the
plague-pit; but where in the world had La Masque found it out.
Lost in a maze of wonder, and inclined to doubt the evidence of
his own ears, he had stood perfectly still, until his ladylove
had so coolly dismissed her company, and then rousing himself
just in time, he had come forward and accosted her. La Masque
turned round, regarded him in silence for a moment, and when she
spoke, her voice had an accent of mingled surprise and
displeasure.
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