"Thank you! I shall do that presently; and as to the other--of course I
shall tell you; what else do you suppose I have come for to-night? Look
here! Do you see this?"
She drew out from some hidden pocket in her dress a small and
beautifully-wrought casket of ivory and silver, with straps and clasps
of silver, and a tiny key of the same.
"Well!" asked Leoline, looking from it to her, with the blank air of one
utterly bewildered, "In this casket, my dear, there is a roll of papers, closely written,
which you are to read as soon as I leave you. Those papers contain your
whole history--do you understand?"
She was looking so white, and staring so hard and so hopelessly, that
there was need of the question. She took the casket and gazed at it with
a perplexed air.
"My child, have your thoughts gone wool-gathering? Do you not comprehend
what I have said to you! Your whole history is hid in that box?"
"I know!" said Leoline, slowly, and with her eyes again riveted to the
black mask. "But; madame, who are you?"
"Have I not told you? What a pretty inquisitor it is! I am La
Masque--your friend, now; something more soon, as you will see when you
read what I have spoken of. Do not ask me how I have come by it--you
will read all about it there. I did not know that I would give it to you
to-night, but I have a strange foreboding that it is destined to be my
last on earth. And, Leoline my child, before I leave you, let me hear
you say you will not hate me when you read what is there."
"What have you done to me? Why should I hate you?"
"Ah! you will find that all out soon enough. Do content me, Leoline--let
me hear you say; `La Masque, whatever you've done to me, however you
have wronged me, I will forgive you!' Can you say that?"
Leoline repeated it simply, like a little child. La Masque took her
hand, held it between both her own, leaned over and looked earnestly in
her face.
"My little Leoline! my beautiful rosebud! May Heaven bless you and grant
you a long and happy life with--shall I say it, Leoline?"
"Please--no!" whispered Leoline, shyly.
La Masque softly patted the little tremulous hand.
"We are both saying the name now in our hearts, my dear, so it is little
matter whether our lips repeat it or not. He is worthy, of you, Leoline,
and your life will be a happy one by his side; but there is another."
She paused and lowered her voice. "When have you seen Count L'Estrange?"
"Not since yesterday, madame."