One,
clear, ringing, and imperious, yet withal feminine, was certainly
not heard for the first time; and the subdued and respectful
voices that answered, were those of his guards.
After a moment, he heard the sound of the withdrawing bolts, and
his heart beat fast. Surely, his half-hour had not already
expired; and if it had, would she be the person to conduct him to
death? The door opened; a puff of wind extinguished his candle,
but not until he had caught the glimmer of jewels, the shining of
gold, and the flutter of long, black hair; and then some one came
in. The door was closed; the bolts shot back! - and he was alone
with Miranda, the queen.
There was no trouble about recognising her, for she carried in
her hand a small lamp, which she held up between them, that its
rays might fall directly on both faces. Each was rather white,
perhaps, and one heart was going faster than it had ever gone
before, and that one was decidedly not the queen's. She was
dressed exactly as he had seen her, in purple and ermine, in
jewels and gold; and strangely out of place she looked there, in
her splendid dress and splendid beauty, among the black beetles
and rats.
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