The Midnight Queen

"My little friend I warned you before not to be so facetious," said

Sir Norman, regarding him quietly; "a rush of mirth to the brain will

certainly be the death of you one of these day."

"No levity, young man!" interposed the lord chancellor, rebukingly;

"remember, you are addressing His Royal Highness Prince Caliban, Spouse,

and Consort of Her Most Gracious Majesty, Miranda!"

"Indeed! Then all I have to say, is, that her majesty has very bad taste

in the selection of a husband, unless, indeed, her wish was to marry

the ugliest man in the world, as she herself is the most beautiful of

women!"

Her majesty took not the slightest notice of this compliment, not so

much as a flatter of her drooping eye-lashes betrayed that she even

heard it, but his highness laughed until he was perfectly hoarse.

"Silence!" shouted the duke, shocked and indignant at this glaring

disrespect, "and answer truthfully the questions put to you. Your name,

you say, is Sir Norman Kingsley?"

"Yes. Has your grace any objection to it?"

His grace waved down the interruption with a dignified wave of the hand,

and went on with were judicial dignity.

"You are the same who shot Lord Ashley between this and the city, some

hours ago?"

"I had the pleasure of shooting a highwayman there, and my only regret

is, I did not perform the same good office by his companion, in the

person of your noble self, before you turned and fled."

A slight titter ran round the room, and the duke turned crimson.

"These remarks are impertinent, and not to the purpose. You are the

murderer of Lord Ashley, let that suffice. Probably you were on your way

hither when you did the deed?"

"He was," said the dwarf, vindictively. "I met him at the Golden Crown

but a short time after."

"Very well, that is another point settled, and either of them is strong

enough to seal his death warrant. You came here as a spy, to see and

hear and report--probably you were sent by King Charles?"

"Probably--just think as you please about it!" said Sir Norman, who knew

his case was as desperate as it could be, and was quite reckless what he

answered.

"You admit that you are a spy, then?"

"No such thing. I have owned nothing. As I told you before, you are

welcome to put what construction you please on my actions."

"Sir Norman Kingsley, this is nonsensical equivocation! You own you came

to hear and see?"

"Well!"

"Well, hearing and seeing constitute spying, do they not? Therefore, you

are a spy."

"I confess it looks like it. What next?"

"Need you ask What is the fate of all spies?"

"No matter what they are in other places, I am pretty certain what they

are here!"