She is in the power of one Count L'Estrange." "And if in his power, pray, how have you found her ?" "Because we are both to meet in her presence within this very hour, and she is to decide between us." "Has Count L'Estrange promised you this ?" "He has." "And you have no doubt what her decision will be ?" "Not the slightest." "How came you to know she was carried off by this count ?" "He confessed it himself." "Voluntarily ?" "No; I taxed him with it, and he owned to the deed; but he voluntarily promised to take me to her and abide by her decision." "Extraordinary!" said La Masque, as if to herself.

"Whimsical as he is, I scarcely expected he would give her up so easily as this." "Then you know him, madame ?" said Sir Norman, pointedly.
"There are few things I do not know, and rare are the disguises I cannot penetrate.

So you have discovered it, too ?" "No, madame, my eyes were not sharp enough, nor had I sufficient cleverness, even, for that.

It was Hubert, the Earl of Rochester's page, who told me who he was." "Ah, the page!" said La Masque, quickly.

"You have then been speaking to him?
What do you think of his resemblance to Leoline ?" "I think it is the most astonishing resemblance I ever saw.