A tall figure, all in black, with its sweeping velvet robes spangled with stars of golden rubies, a perfect figure of incomparable grace and beauty.

It had worn a cloak that had dropped lightly from its shoulders, and lay on the floor and the long hair streamed in darkness over shoulder and waist.

The face was masked, the form stood erect and perfectly motionless, and the scream of surprise and consternation that arose to Leoline's lips died out in wordless terror.

Her noiseless visitor perceived it, and touching her arm lightly with one little white hand, said in her sweetest and most exquisite of tones: "My child, do not tremble so, and do not look so deathly white.

You know me, do you not ?" "You are La Masque!" said Leoline trembling with nervous dread.
"I am, and no stranger to you; though perhaps you think so.