nd
taking no heed whatever of his companion's marginal notes.

"Gone off herself! Is the man crazy?" inquired Sir Norman, with a stare.
"Fifteen minutes before we left her dead, or in a dead swoon, which is
all the same in Greek, and yet he talks of her getting up and going off
herself!"

"In fact, the only way to get at the bottom of the mystery," said
Ormiston, "is to go in search of her. Sleeping, I suppose, is out of the
question."

"Of course it is! I shall never sleep again till I find her!"

They passed out, and Sir Norman this time took the precaution of turning
the key, thereby fulfilling the adage of locking the stable-door when
the steed was stolen. The night had grown darker and hotter; and as they
walked along, the clock of St. Paul's tolled nine.

"And now, where shall we go?" inquired Sir Norman, as they rapidly
hurried on.

"I should recommend visiting the house we found her first; if not there,
then we can try the pest-house."

Sir Norman shuddered.

"Heaven forefend she should be there! It is the most mysterious thing
ever I heard of!"

"What do you think now of La Masque's prediction--dare you doubt still?"

"Ormiston, I don't know what to think. It is the same face I saw, and
yet--"

"Well--and yet--"

"I can't tell you--I am fairly bewildered. If we don't find the lady at
her own house, I have half a mind to apply to your friend, La Masque,
again."

"The wisest thing you could do, my dear fellow. If any one knows your
unfortunate beloved's whereabouts, it is La Masque, depend upon it."

"That's settled then; and now, don't talk, for conversation at this
smart pace I don't admire."

Ormiston, like the amiable, obedient young man that he was, instantly
held his tongue, and they strode along at a breathless pace. There was
an unusual concourse of men abroad that night, watching the gloomy face
of the sky, and waiting the hour of midnight to kindle the myriad of
fires; and as the two tall, dark figures went rapidly by, all supposed
it to be a case of life or death. In the eyes of one of the party,
perhaps it was; and neither halted till they came once more in sight
of the house, whence a short time previously they had carried the
death-cold bride. A row of lamps over the door-portals shed a yellow,
uncertain light around, while the lights of barges and wherries were
sown like stars along the river.

"There is the house," cried Ormiston, and both paused to take breath;
"and I am ab