Certain it is, I never yet heard of a man swooning from excess of
surprise or joy, and perhaps that may account for Sir Norman's
not doing so on the present occasion. But he came to an abrupt
stand-still in their rapid career; and if it had not been quite
so excessively dark, his friend would have beheld a countenance
wonderful to look on, in its mixture of utter astonishment and
sublime consternation.
"Leoline!" he faintly gasped. "Just atop a moment, Ormiston, and
say that again - will you?"
"No," said Ormiston, hurrying unconcernedly on; "I shall do no
such thing, for there is no time to lose, and if there were I
have no fancy for standing in this dismal road. Come on, man,
and I'll tell you as we go."
Thus abjured, and seeing there was no help for it, Sir Norman, in
a dazed and bewildered state, complied; and Ormiston promptly and
briskly relaxed into business.
"You see, my dear fellow, to begin at the beginning, after you
left, I stood at ease at La Masque's door, awaiting that lady's
return, and was presently rewarded by seeing her come up with an
old woman called Prudence. Do you recollect the woman who rushed
screaming out of the home of the dead bride?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Well, that was Prudence.
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