Not but that in her secret heart she was a good deal frightened, for something under her pink satin corsage was going pit-a-pat at a wonderful rate; but she thought that betraying such a feeling would not be the thing.

Perhaps the tall, dark figure saw it, and smiled behind her mask; but outwardly she only leaned lightly against the back of the chair, and glanced discreetly at the door.
"Are you sure we are quite alone ?" "Quite:" "Because," said La Masque, in her low, silvery tones, "what I have come to say is not for the ears of any third person living:" "We are entirely alone, madame," replied Leoline, opening her black eyes very wide.

"Prudence is gone, and I do not know when she will be back." "Prudence will never come back," said La Masque, quietly.
"Madame!" "My dear, do not look so shocked--it is not her fault.

You know she deserted you for fear of the plague." "Yes, yes!" "Well, that did not save her; nay, it even brought on what she dreaded so much.

Your nurse is plague-stricken, my dear, and lies ill unto death in the pesthouse in Finsbury Fields." "Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed Leoline, while every drop of blood fled from her face.