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"La Masque is not at home, and I cannot admit you," was his sharp

salute

"Then I shall just take the trouble of ad myself," said Sir

Norman, shortly

And without further ceremony, he pushed aside the skeleton and entered

But that outraged servitor sprang in his path, indignant and amazed

"No, sir; I cannot perainst all

orders to aders in La Masque's absence"

"Bah! you old si his custoe in his impatience, "I have La Masque's order for

what I a with you directly, will you? Show me to

her private roonificantly as he spoke, and that argu, in low tones, the anatomy stalked

up-stairs; and the other folloith very different feelings frouide paused in

the hall above, with his hand on the latch of a door

"This is her private room, is it!" demanded Sir Norman

"Yes"

"Just stand aside, then, and let me pass"

The room he entered was small, simply furnished, and seemed to answer

as bed-cha-table under a

, covered with books, and he glanced at them with some

curiosity They were classics, Greek and Latin, and other little known

tongues--perhaps Sanscrit and Chaldaic, French belles lettres, novels,

and poetry, and a few rare old English books There were no papers,

however, and those hat he was in search of; so spying a drawer in