I did not see you."

"Very likely, but I was there none the less."

"Do you know me?" said the stranger; and Sir Norman could see he was
gazing at him sharply from under the shadow of his slouched hat.

"I have not that honor, but I hope to do so before we part."

"It was quite dark when you saw me on the bridge--how comes it, then,
that you recollect me so well?"

"I have always been blessed with an excellent memory," said Sir Norman
carelessly, "and I knew your dress, face, and voice instantly."

"My voice! Then you heard me speak, probably to the watchman guarding a
plague-stricken house?"

"Exactly! and the subject being a very interesting one, I listened to
all you said."

"Indeed! and what possible interest could the subject have for you, may
I ask?"

"A deeper one than you think!" said Sir Norman, with a slight tremor in
his voice as he thought of the lady, "the watchman told you the lady you
sought for had been carried away dead, and thrown into the plague-pit!"

"Well," cried the stranger starting violently, "and was it not true?"

"Only partly. She was carried away in the pest-cart sure enough, but she
was not thrown into the plague-pit!"

"And why?"

"Because, when on reaching that horrible spot, she was found to be
alive!"

"Good Heaven! And what then?"

"Then," exclaimed Sir Norman, in a tone almost as excited as his own,
"she was brought to the house of a friend, and left alone for a few
minutes, while that friend went in search of a doctor. On returning they
found her--where do you think?"

"Where?"

"Gone!" said Sir Norman emphatically, "spirited away by some mysterious
agency; for she was dying of the plague, and could not possibly stir
hand or foot herself."

"Dying of the plague, O Leoline!" said the stranger, in a voice full of
pity and horror, while for a moment he covered his face with his hands.

"So her name is Leoline?" said Sir Norman to himself. "I have found
that out, and also that this gentleman, whatever he may be to her, is as
ignorant of her whereabouts as I am myself. He seems in trouble, too. I
wonder if he really happens to be her husband?"

The stranger suddenly lifted his head and favored Sir Norman with a long
and searching look.

"How come you to know all this, Sir Norman Kingsley," he asked abruptly.

"And how come you to know my name?" demanded Sir Norman, very much
amazed, notwithstanding his assertion that nothing would astonish him
more.

"That i