"Half an hour, or thereabouts.There are some secrets in the matter that have to be investigated, and which will require some time.""Then let all the trials be over first, and all the beheadings take place together.We don't choose to take the trouble of traveling to the Black Chamber just to see his head chopped off, and then have the same journey to undergo half an hour after, for a similar purpose.Call Lady Castlemaine, and let this prisoner be taken to one of the dungeons, and there remain until the time for execution.Guards, do you hear? Take him away!"The dwarf's face grew black as a thunder-cloud, and he jumped to his feet and confronted the queen with a look so intensely ugly that no other earthly face could have assumed it.But that lady merely met it with one of cold disdain and aversion, and, keeping her dark bright eyes fixed chillingly upon him, waved her white hand, in her imperious way, to the guards.Those warlike gentlemen knew better than to disobey her most gracious majesty when she happened to be, like Mrs.Joe Gargary, on the "rampage,"which, if her flashing eye and a certain expression about her handsome mouth spoke the truth, must have been twenty hours out of the twenty-four.As the soldiers approached to lead him away, Sir Norman tried to catch her eye; but in vain, for she kept those brilliant optics most unwinkingly fixed on the dwarf's face.
"Call Lady Castlemaine," commanded the duke, as Sir Norman with his guards passed through the doorway leading to the Black Chamber."Your highness, I presume, is ready to attend to her case.""Before I attend to hers or any one else's case," said the dwarf, hopping over the table like an overgrown toad, "I will first see that this guest of ours is properly taken care, of, and does not leave us without the ceremony of saying good-bye."With which, he seized one of the wax candles, and trotted, with rather unprincely haste, after Sir Norman and his conductors.
The young knight had been led down the same long passage he had walked through before; but instead of entering the chamber of horrors, they passed through the centre arch, and found themselves in another long, vaulted corridor, dimly lit by the glow of the outer one.It was as cold and dismal a place, Sir Norman thought, as he had ever seen; and it had an odor damp and earthy, and of the grave.It had two or three great, ponderous doors on either aide, fastened with huge iron bolts; and before one of these his conductors paused.Just as they did so, the glimmer of the dwarf's taper pierced the gloom, and the next moment, smiling from ear to ear, he was by their side.
"Down with the bars!" he cried."This is the one for him - the strongest and safest of them all.Now, my dashing courtier, you will see how tenderly your little friend provides for his favorites!"If Sir Norman made any reply, it was drowned id the rattle and clank of the massive bars, and is hopelessly lost to posterity.
The huge door swung back; but nothing was visible but a sort of black velvet pall, and effluvia much stronger than sweet.
Involuntarily he recoiled as one of the guards made a motion for him to enter.
"I Shove him in! shove him in!" shrieked the dwarf, who was getting so excited with glee that he was dancing about in a sort of jig of delight."In with him - in with him! If he won't go peaceably, kick him in head-foremost!""I would strongly advise them not to try it," said Sir Norman, as he stepped into the blackness, "if they have any regard for their health! It does not make much difference after all, my little friend, whether I spend the next half-hour in the inky blackness of this place or the blood-red grandeur of your royal court.My little friend, until we meet again, permit me to say, au revoir."The dwarf laughed in his pleasant way, and pushed the candle cautiously inside the door.
"Good-by for a little while, my dear young sir, and while the headsmen is sharpening his axe, I'll leave you to think about your little friend.Lest you should lack amusement, I'll leave you a light to contemplate your apartment; and for fear you may get lonesome, these two gentlemen will stand outside your door, with their swords drawn, till I come back.Good-by, my dear ,young sir - good-bye!"The dungeon-door swung to with a tremendous bang Sir Norman was barred in his prison to await his doom and the dwarf was skipping along the passage with sprightliness, laughing as he went.
