Missing the count, he
glanced around the room, and discovered him standing on Miranda's
throne, looking over the company with the cool air of a
conqueror. Miranda, aroused, as she very well might be by all
this screaming and fighting, had partly raised herself upon her
elbow, and was looking wildly about her. As her eye fell on Sir
Norman, she sat fairly erect, with a cry of exultation and joy.
"You have come, you have come, as I knew you would," she
excitedly cried, "and the hour of retribution is at hand!"
At the words of one who, a few moments before, they had supposed
to be dead, an awestruck silence fell; and the count, taking
advantage of it, waved his hand, and cried
"Yield yourselves prisoners, I command you! The royal guards are
without; and the first of you who offers the slightest resistance
will die like a dog! Ho, guards I enter, and seize your
prisoners!"
Quick as thought the room was full of soldiers! but the rest of
the order was easier said than obeyed. The robbers, knowing
their doom was death, fought with the fury of desperation, and a
snort, wild, and terrible conflict ensued. Foremost in the melee
was Sir Norman and the count; while Hubert, who had taken
possession of the dwarf's sword, fought like a young lion.
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