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Updated: May 10, 2025
Remarking that he did not take the direct road to the plague-pit, Leonard called to him, and pointed out the corner in which it lay. "I know where the old plague-pit is, as well as you," replied the watchman, "but it has been filled these three weeks. The new pit lies in this direction."
"The dead-cart will pass by in an hour," said the watchman; "and then the body can be taken away." "An hour will be too late," rejoined Thirlby. "If she continues in this frantic state, she will be dead before that time. You have a hand-barrow there. Take the body to the plague-pit at once, and I will reward you for your trouble."
"That voice!" exclaimed the sick man, with a look denoting the approach of delirium. "It must be my Isabella. Oh! forgive me! sweet injured saint; forgive me!" "Your presence evidently distresses him," said Leonard. "Let us hasten for assistance. Your name, sir?" he added, to the sick man. "Why should you seek to know it?" replied the other. "No tombstone will be placed over the plague-pit."
"Truly I know how much love you will have for me when it is revealed. Do you know that no one has looked in my face for the last eight years." He stood and gazed at her in wonder. "It is so, Mr. Ormiston; and in my heart I have vowed a vow to plunge headlong into the most loathsome plague-pit in London, rather than ever raise it again. My friend, be satisfied. Go and leave me; go and forget me."
"Dead of the what?" cried the earl, aghast. "Dead of the plague! I'll tell your lordship how it was," said Ormiston, who forthwith commend and related the story of their finding Leoline; of the resuscitation at the plague-pit; of the flight from Sir Norman's house, and of the delirious plunge into the river, and miraculous cure. "A marvelous story," commented the earl, much interested.
"She would not quit her master," replied the drawer, "so the men threw her into the cart with him, saying, they would bury her in the plague-pit, as all dogs were ordered to be destroyed." "This must be prevented," cried Leonard. "Which way did the dead-cart go?" "Towards Moorgate," replied the drawer.
The white hands removed the mask, and the floating coils of hair, and revealed, to Sir Norman's horror-struck gaze, the grisly face and head, and the hollow eye-sockets, the grinning mouth, and fleshless cheeks of a skeleton! He saw it but for one fearful instant the next, she had thrown up both arms, and leaped headlong into the loathly plague-pit.
With what feelings that young person had listened to the neat and appropriate dialogue I have just had the pleasure of immortalizing, may be to use a phrase you may have heard before, once or twice better imagined than described. He knew very well who Leoline was, and how she had been saved from the plague-pit; but where in the world had La Masque found it out.
"Searching for her," was the prompt reply. "Where?" "Through the streets; in the pest-houses, and at the plague-pit." "How did you find out she lived here?" "I did not find it out. When I became convinced she was in none of the places I have mentioned, I gave up the search in despair, for to-night, and was returning to his lordship to report my ill success."
Dressing for her bridal; the terrible announcement of Prudence; the death-like swoon; the awakening at the plague-pit; the maniac flight through the streets; the cold plunge in the river; her rescue; her interview with Sir Norman, and her promise; the visit of La Masque; the appearance of the count; her abduction; her journey here; the coming of Hubert, and their suddenly-discovered relationship.
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