Part 18 (1/2)
”Of course there is something behind. Did I not tell you that I had a confession to make concerning a wicked dream? Listen, Lord Arondelle. At the time you stood under my window and saw the light turned off, and supposing that I had gone to rest, you turned away and left the grounds, at that time I had _not_ gone to rest, but had gone to my father's room, in returning from which I experienced that strange optical illusion. My nerves must have been strangely disordered, for when I reached my own chamber again, and finding it quite dark, opened the window and sat down to look out upon the moonlit lake, I immediately fell asleep, and had a terrible, and a terribly real and distinct dream--a dream, dear, that nearly overturned my reason, I do believe.”
”What was it, love?” he inquired.
She told him without the least reserve.
He listened to her with interest, and then laughed aloud.
”The idea of your having such a dream about me as that! I do not wonder it weighed upon your mind. Yes, it was very wicked of you, my sinful child--very. But since you sincerely repent, I freely absolve you.
_Benedicite!_”
Salome looked and listened to him with surprise; for as she spoke of dreaming that he called Rose Cameron his wife, he not only laughed at that idea, but really appeared as if the very existence of the girl was unknown to him.
Then Salome ventured another question:
”Do you know any one of the name of Rose Cameron?”
”No, not personally. I believe one of our shepherds, up at Ben Lone, has a very handsome daughter of that name, but I have never seen her,” said the young marquis, with an open sincerity that carried conviction with it.
Salome was amazed, but convinced. What could have started the false reports concerning the young marquis and the handsome shepherdess?
Clearly Rose's own hallucination. She had seen the marquis somewhere, without having been seen by him; she had fallen in love with him, and had partly lost her reason and imagined all the rest, she thought.
”And so you have never even looked upon the beauty of that dream?” she said, with a smile.
”Never even looked upon her,” a.s.sented the marquis.
”Then I do, in downright earnest, beg your pardon for my dream,” said Salome, gravely.
”But I have already given you absolution, my erring daughter?
_Benedicite! Benedicite!_” replied the marquis still laughing.
At that moment there was a light rap at the library door, followed by the entrance of a footman who placed a small, twisted note in the hands of Miss Levison. She opened it and read:
”MY DEAR CHILD: It is after ten o'clock. We go to church at eleven. Sir Lemuel has not yet rung his bell. His valet having received his orders last night not to call him this morning, has declined to do so. What is to be done under these circ.u.mstances? Send me a verbal message by the bearer. Your loving Aunt,
”SOPHIE BELGRADE.”
”My father not yet risen!” exclaimed Salome in surprise. ”He must have overslept himself with fatigue. Tell Lady Belgrade, with my thanks, that I will go to my father's room and waken him,” she added, turning to the footman, who bowed and went to deliver his message.
”I hope Sir Lemuel is quite well?” said the young marquis, earnestly.
”He is quite well. My father regulates his habits so well as to live in perfect harmony with the laws of life and health. If he fatigues himself over night, he always takes a compensating rest in the morning. That is what he is doing now. But I think he is sleeping even longer than he intended to do, so I really must arouse him now, if we are to keep our appointment with the minister. Good-by, until we meet at the church, Lord Arondelle,” she said, as she floated from the room in her bridal robe, and vail.
”Who says that she is not beautiful, belies her? She is lovely in person and in spirit,” murmured the young marquis, as he took up his hat to leave the house.
CHAPTER VIII.
A HORRIBLE DISCOVERY.