She had been quite
alone when she looked out; she was alone no longer; there had
been no noise, yet soma one had entered, and was standing beside
her. A tall figure, all in black, with its sweeping velvet robes
spangled with stars of golden rubies, a perfect figure of
incomparable grace and beauty. It had worn a cloak that had
dropped lightly from its shoulders, and lay on the floor and the
long hair streamed in darkness over shoulder and waist. The
face was masked, the form stood erect and perfectly motionless,
and the scream of surprise and consternation that arose to
Leoline's lips died out in wordless terror. Her noiseless
visitor perceived it, and touching her arm lightly with one
little white hand, said in her sweetest and most exquisite of
tones:
"My child, do not tremble so, and do not look so deathly white.
You know me, do you not?"
"You are La Masque!" said Leoline trembling with nervous dread.
"I am, and no stranger to you; though perhaps you think so. Is
it your habit every night to look out of your window in full
dress until morning?"
"How did you enter?" asked Leoline, her curiosity overcoming for
a moment even her fear.
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