“Tell me, madam, for I must know!”
“Then you shall; but, remember, if you get into danger, you must not blame me.”
“Blame you! No, I think I would hardly do that. Where am I to seek for her?”
“Two miles from London beyond Newgate,” said the mask. “There stand the ruins of what was long ago a hunting-lodge, now a crumbling skeleton, roofless and windowless, and said, by rumor, to be haunted. Perhaps you have seen or heard of it?”
“I have seen it a hundred times,” broke in Sir Norman. “Surely, you do not mean to say she is there?”
“Go there, and you will see. Go there to-night, and lose no time—that is, supposing you can procure a license.”
“I have one already. I have a pass from the Lord Mayor to come and go from the city when I please.”
“Good! Then you'll go to-night.”
“I will go. I might as well do that as anything else, I suppose; but it is quite impossible,” said Sir Norman, firmly, not to say obstinately, “that she can be there.”
“Very well you'll see. You had better go on horseback, if you desire to be back in time to witness the illumination.”