“Permit me to differ from your lordship. Leoline would not touch you with a pair of tongs!” “Ah! she has better taste than you give her credit for; but if I should fail, I know what to do to console myself.” “May I ask what?” “Yes! there is Hubert, as like her an two peas in a pod. I shall dress him up in lace and silks, and gewgaws, and have a Leoline of my own already made its order.” “Permit me to doubt that, too! Hubert is as much lost to you as Leoline!” Leaving the volatile earl to put what construction pleased him best on this last sententious remark, he resumed his march after George, and was ushered, at last, into an ante-room near the audience-chamber. Count L'Estrange, still attired as Count L'Estrange, stood near a window overlooking the court-yard, and as the page salaamed and withdrew, he turned round, and greeted Sir Norman with his suavest air. “The appointed hour is passed, Sir Norman Kingsley, but that is partly your own fault. Your guide hither tells me that you stopped for some time at the house of a fortune-teller, known as La Masque. Why was this!” “I was forced to stop on most important business,” answered the knight, still resolved to treat him as the count, until it should please him to doff his incognito, “of which you shall hear anon. Just now, our business is with Leoline.” “True! And as in a short time I start with yonder cavalcade, there is but little time to lose. Apropos, Kingsley, who is that mysterious woman, La Masque?” “She is, or was (for she is dead now) a French lady, of noble birth, and the sister of Leoline!” “Her sister! And have you discovered Leoline's history?” “I have.” “And her name!” “And her name. She is Leoline De Montmorenci! And with the proudest blood of France in her veins, living obscure and unknown--a stranger in a strange land since childhood; but, with God's grace and your help, I hope to see her restored to all she has lost, before long.” “You know me, then?” said his companion, half-smiling. “Yes, your majesty,” answered Sir Norman, bowing low before the king. CHAPTER XXIII. FINIS