cynosure of all eyes. While he yet gazed in mingled astonishment
and incredulity, the scene faded away, and another took its
place. This time a dungeon-cell, damp and dismal; walls, and
floor, and ceiling covered with green and hideous slime. A small
lamp stood on the floor, and by its sickly, watery gleam, he saw
himself again standing, pale and dejected, near the wall. But he
was not alone; the same glittering vision in purple and diamonds
stood before him, and suddenly he drew his sword and plunged it
up to the hilt in her heart! The beautiful vision fell like a
stone at his feet, and the sword was drawn out reeking with her
life-blood. This was a little too much for the real Sir Norman,
and with an expression of indignant consternation, he sprang
upright. Instantly it all faded away and the reflection of his
own excited face looked up at him from the caldron.

"I told you not to speak," said La Masque, quietly, "but you must
look on still another scene."

Again she threw a portion of the contents of the casket into the
caldron, and "spake aloud the words of power." Another cloud of
smoke arose and filled the room, and when it cleared away, Sir
Norman beheld a third and less startling sight. The scene and
place he could not discover, but it seemed to him like night and
a storm. Two men were lying on the ground, and bound fast
together, it appeared to him. As he looked, it faded away, and
once more his own face seemed to mock him in the clear water.

"Do you know those two last figures!" asked the lady.

"I do," said Sir Norman, promptly; "it was Ormiston and myself."