“I have always been blessed with an excellent memory,” said Sir Norman carelessly, “and I knew your dress, face, and voice instantly.”
“My voice! Then you heard me speak, probably to the watchman guarding a plague-stricken house?”
“Exactly! and the subject being a very interesting one, I listened to all you said.”
“Indeed! and what possible interest could the subject have for you, may I ask?”
“A deeper one than you think!” said Sir Norman, with a slight tremor in his voice as he thought of the lady, “the watchman told you the lady you sought for had been carried away dead, and thrown into the plague-pit!”
“Well,” cried the stranger starting violently, “and was it not true?”
“Only partly. She was carried away in the pest-cart sure enough, but she was not thrown into the plague-pit!”
“And why?”
“Because, when on reaching that horrible spot, she was found to be alive!”
“Good Heaven! And what then?”