nd left to her own devices, while her gallant rescuer went for a
doctor; and when they returned she was missing. Our pretty Leoline seems
to have a strong fancy for getting lost!"

There was a pause, during which Prudence looked at her with a face full
of mingled fear and curiosity. At last:

"Madame, how do you know all this? Were you there?"

"No. Not I, indeed! What would take me there?"

"Then how do you happen to know everything about it?"

La Masque laughed.

"A little bird told me, Prudence! Have you returned to resume your old
duties?"

"Madame, I dare not go into that house again. I am afraid of taking the
plague."

"Prudence, you are a perfect idiot! Are you not liable to take the
plague in the remotest quarter of this plague-infested city? And even
if you do take it, what odds? You have only a few years to live, at the
most, and what matter whether you die now or at the end of a year or
two?"

"What matter?" repeated Prudence, in a high key of indignant amazement.
"It may make no matter to you, Madame Masque, but it makes a great deal
to me; I can tell you; and into that infected house I'll not put one
foot."

"Just as you please, only in that case there is no need for further
talk, so allow me to bid you good-night!"

"But, madame, what of Leoline? Do stop one moment and tell me of her."

"What have I to tell? I have told you all I know. If you want to find
her, you must search in the city or in the pest-house!"

Prudence shuddered, and covered her face with her hands.

"O, my poor darling! so good and so beautiful. Heaven might surely have
spared her! Are you going to do nothing farther about it?"

"What can I do? I have searched for her and have not found her, and what
else remains?"

"Madame, you know everything--surely, surely you know where my poor
little nursling is, among the rest."

Again La Masque laughed--another of her low, sweet, derisive laughs.

"No such thing, Prudence. If I did, I should have her here in a
twinkling, depend upon--it. However, it all comes to the same thing in
the end. She is probably dead by this time, and would have to be buried
in the plague-pit, anyhow. If you have nothing further to say, Prudence,
you had better bid me good-night, and let me go."

"Good-night, madame!" said Prudence, with a sort of groan, as she
wrapped her cloak closely around her, and turned to go.

La Masque stood for a moment looking after her, and then placed a key
in the lo