Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/271

 bundle he carried on the top of the range, and said with a laugh:

"Now, shall the actor make up for his part? I've the costume all ready. This is the palace of the queen to-night. I have been commanded to appear before her!"

She gave no answer.

He bent and kissed her hand and found it cold and trembling violently.

"You feel the chill of this old basement," he said with tender solicitude. "I'll light the lantern at once."

She caught his hand.

"No! No!—I—prefer it like this—the moonlight is enough."

"All right," he answered gaily. "Shall I don my robes as ruler of the Invisible Empire to please the fancy of Your Majesty?"

He opened the bundle and shook out the long white ulster-like disguise with its double cross of scarlet and gold.

"Put it back—I'm not ready yet!" she gasped.

"You'll laugh and chat a while with the audience before the curtain goes up on the drama!—good! I've a lot to say. Sit here in the window while I tell you something."

He led her to the low casement of the window and seated her by his side.