“Castitfromyou！”exclaimedJervaseHelwyse，claspinghishands
inanagonyofentreaty。“Itmaynotyetbetoolate！Givethe
accursedgarmenttotheflames！”
ButLadyEleanore，withalaughofscorn，drewtherichfoldsof
theembroideredmantleoverherhead，insuchafashionastogivea
completelynewaspecttoherbeautifulface，which-halfhidden，
halfrevealed-seemedtobelongtosomebeingofmysterious
characterandpurposes。
Farewell，JervaseHelwyse！”saidshe。“Keepmyimageinyour
remembrance，asyoubeholditnow。”
“Alas，lady！”hereplied，inatonenolongerwild，butsadasa
funeralbell。“Wemustmeetshortly，whenyourfacemaywearanother
aspect-andthatshallbetheimagethatmustabidewithinme。”
Hemadenomoreresistancetotheviolenteffortsofthe
gentlemenandservants，whoalmostdraggedhimoutoftheapartment，
anddismissedhimroughlyfromtheirongateoftheProvinceHouse。
CaptainLangford，whohadbeenveryactiveinthisaffair，was
returningtothepresenceofLadyEleanoreRochcliffe，whenhe
encounteredthephysician，DoctorClarke，withwhomhehadheldsome
casualtalkonthedayofherarrival。TheDoctorstoodapart，
separatedfromLadyEleanorebythewidthoftheroom，buteyingher
withsuchkeensagacitythatCaptainLangfordinvoluntarilygavehim
creditforthediscoveryofsomedeepsecret。
“Youappeartobesmitten，afterall，withthecharmsofthis
queenlymaiden。”saidhe，hopingthustodrawforththephysician’s
hiddenknowledge。
“Godforbid！”answeredDoctorClarke，withagravesmile；“andif
youbewiseyouwillputupthesameprayerforyourself。Woto
thosewhoshallbesmittenbythisbeautifulLadyEleanore！Butyonder
standstheGovernor-andIhaveawordortwoforhisprivateear。
Goodnight！”
HeaccordinglyadvancedtoGovernorShute，andaddressedhimin
solowatonethatnoneoftheby-standerscouldcatchawordof
whathesaid，althoughthesuddenchangeofhisExcellency’s
hithertocheerfulvisagebetokenedthatthecommunicationcouldbe
ofnoagreeableimport。Averyfewmomentsafterwardsitwasannounced
tothegueststhatanunforeseencircumstancerendereditnecessaryto
putaprematureclosetothefestival。
TheballattheProvinceHousesuppliedatopicofconversationfor
thecolonialmetropolisforsomedaysafteritsoccurrence，and
mightstilllongerhavebeenthegeneraltheme，onlythatasubjectof
all-engrossinginterestthrustit，foratime，fromthepublic
recollection。Thiswastheappearanceofadreadfulepidemic，which，
inthatageandlongbeforeandafterwards，waswonttoslayits
hundredsandthousandsonbothsidesoftheAtlantic。Onthe
occasionofwhichwespeak，itwasdistinguishedbyapeculiar
virulence，insomuchthatithasleftitstraces-itspit-marks，touse
anappropriatefigure-onthehistoryofthecountry，theaffairsof
whichwerethrownintoconfusionbyitsravages。Atfirst，unlike
itsordinarycourse，thediseaseseemedtoconfineitselftothe
highercirclesofsociety，selectingitsvictimsfromamongtheproud，
thewell-born，andthewealthy，enteringunabashedintostately
chambers，andlyingdownwiththeslumberersinsilkenbeds。Someof
themostdistinguishedguestsoftheProvinceHouse-eventhosewhom
thehaughtyLadyEleanoreRochcliffehaddeemednotunworthyofher
favor-werestrickenbythisfatalscourge。Itwasnoticed，withan
ungenerousbitternessoffeeling，thatthefourgentlemen-the
Virginian，theBritishofficer，theyoungclergyman，andthe
Governor’ssecretary-whohadbeenhermostdevotedattendantson
theeveningoftheball，weretheforemostonwhomtheplaguestroke
fell。Butthedisease，pursuingitsonwardprogress，soonceasedtobe
exclusivelyaprerogativeofaristocracy。Itsredbrandwasno
longerconferredlikeanoble’sstar，oranorderofknighthood。It
threadeditswaythroughthenarrowandcrookedstreets，andentered
thelow，mean，darksomedwellings，andlaiditshandofdeathuponthe
artisansandlaboringclassesofthetown。Itcompelledrichand
poortofeelthemselvesbrethrenthen；andstalkingtoandfro
acrosstheThreeHills，withafiercenesswhichmadeitalmostanew
pestilence，therewasthatmightyconqueror-thatscourgeandhorror
ofourforefathers-theSmall-Pox！
Wecannotestimatetheaffrightwhichthisplagueinspiredofyore，
bycontemplatingitasthefanglessmonsterofthepresentday。We
mustremember，rather，withwhatawewewatchedthegiganticfootsteps
oftheAsiaticcholera，stridingfromshoretoshoreofthe
Atlantic，andmarchinglikedestinyuponcitiesfarremotewhich
flighthadalreadyhalfdepopulated。Thereisnootherfearso
horribleandunhumanizingasthatwhichmakesmandreadtobreathe
heaven’svitalairlestitbepoison，ortograspthehandofa
brotherorfriendlestthegripeofthepestilenceshouldclutch
him。Suchwasthedismaythatnowfollowedinthetrackofthe
disease，orranbeforeitthroughoutthetown。Graveswerehastily
dug，andthepestilentialrelicsashastilycovered，becausethe
deadwereenemiesoftheliving，andstrovetodrawthemheadlong，
asitwere，intotheirowndismalpit。Thepubliccouncilswere
suspended，asifmortalwisdommightrelinquishitsdevices，now
thatanunearthlyusurperhadfoundhiswayintotheruler’s
mansion。Hadanenemy’sfleetbeenhoveringonthecoast，orhis
armiestramplingonoursoil，thepeoplewouldprobablyhavecommitted
theirdefencetothatsamedirefulconquerorwhohadwroughttheirown
calamity，andwouldpermitnointerferencewithhissway。This
conquerorhadasymbolofhistriumphs。Itwasablood-redflag，
thatflutteredinthetaintedair，overthedoorofeverydwelling
intowhichtheSmall-Poxhadentered。
SuchabannerwaslongsincewavingovertheportaloftheProvince
House；forthence，aswasprovedbytrackingitsfootstepsback，had
allthisdreadfulmischiefissued。Ithadbeentracedbacktoalady’s
luxuriouschamber-totheproudestoftheproud-toherthatwasso
delicate，andhardlyownedherselfofearthlymould-tothehaughty
one，whotookherstandabovehumansympathies-toLadyEleanore！
Thereremainednoroomfordoubtthatthecontagionhadlurkedinthat
gorgeousmantle，whichthrewsostrangeagracearoundheratthe
festival。Itsfantasticsplendorhadbeenconceivedinthedelirious
brainofawomanonherdeath-bed，andwasthelasttoilofher
stiffeningfingers，whichhadinterwovenfateandmiserywithits
goldenthreads。Thisdarktale，whisperedatfirst，wasnowbruited
farandwide。ThepeopleravedagainsttheLadyEleanore，andcried
outthatherprideandscornhadevokedafiend，andthat，between
themboth，thismonstrousevilhadbeenborn。Attimes，theirrageand
despairtookthesemblanceofgrinningmirth；andwheneverthered
flagofthepestilencewashoistedoveranotherandyetanother
door，theyclappedtheirhandsandshoutedthroughthestreets，in
bittermockery：“BeholdanewtriumphfortheLadyEleanore！”
Oneday，inthemidstofthesedismaltimes，awildfigure
approachedtheportaloftheProvinceHouse，andfoldinghisarms，
stoodcontemplatingthescarletbannerwhichapassingbreezeshook
fitfully，asiftoflingabroadthecontagionthatittypified。At
length，climbingoneofthepillarsbymeansoftheironbalustrade，
hetookdowntheflagandenteredthemansion，wavingitabovehis
head。AtthefootofthestaircasehemettheGovernor，bootedand
spurred，withhiscloakdrawnaroundhim，evidentlyonthepointof
settingforthuponajourney。
“Wretchedlunatic，whatdoyouseekhere？”exclaimedShute，
extendinghiscanetoguardhimselffromcontact。“Thereisnothing
herebutDeath。Back-oryouwillmeethim！”
“Deathwillnottouchme，thebanner-bearerofthepestilence！”
criedJervaseHelwyse，shakingtheredflagaloft。“Death，andthe
Pestilence，whowearstheaspectoftheLadyEleanore，willwalk
throughthestreetstonight，andImustmarchbeforethemwiththis
banner！”
“WhydoIwastewordsonthefellow？”mutteredtheGovernor，
drawinghiscloakacrosshismouth。“Whatmattershismiserable
life，whennoneofusaresureoftwelvehours’breath？On，fool，to
yourowndestruction！”
HemadewayforJervaseHelwyse，whoimmediatelyascendedthe
staircase，but，onthefirstlanding-place，wasarrestedbythefirm
graspofahanduponhisshoulder。Lookingfiercelyup，witha
madman’simpulsetostrugglewithandrendasunderhisopponent，he
foundhimselfpowerlessbeneathacalm，sterneye，whichpossessedthe
mysteriouspropertyofquellingfrenzyatitsheight。Theperson
whomhehadnowencounteredwasthephysician，DoctorClarke，the
dutiesofwhosesadprofessionhadledhimtotheProvinceHousewhere
hewasaninfrequentguestinmoreprosperoustimes。
“Youngman，whatisyourpurpose？”demandedhe。
“IseektheLadyEleanore。”answeredJervaseHelwyse，submissively。
“Allhavefledfromher。”saidthephysician。“Whydoyouseek
hernow？Itellyou，youth，hernursefelldeath-strickenonthe
thresholdofthatfatalchamber。Knowyenot，thatnevercamesucha
cursetoourshoresasthislovelyLadyEleanore？thatherbreath
hasfilledtheairwithpoison？thatshehasshakenpestilenceand
deathupontheland，fromthefoldsofheraccursedmantle？”
“Letmelookuponher！”rejoinedthemadyouth，morewildly。“Let
mebeholdher，inherawfulbeauty，cladintheregalgarmentsof
thepestilence！SheandDeathsitonathronetogether。Letmekneel
downbeforethem！”
“Pooryouth！”saidDoctorClarke；and，movedbyadeepsenseof
humanweakness，asmileofcaustichumorcurledhislipeventhen。
“Wiltthoustillworshipthedestroyerandsurroundherimagewith
fantasiesthemoremagnificent，themoreevilshehaswrought？Thus
mandothevertohistyrants。Approach，then！Madness，asIhave
noted，hasthatgoodefficacy，thatitwillguardyoufrom
contagion-andperchanceitsowncuremaybefoundinyonderchamber。”
Ascendinganotherflightofstairs，hethrewopenadoorandsigned
toJervaseHelwysethatheshouldenter。Thepoorlunatic，itseems
probable，hadcherishedadelusionthathishaughtymistresssatin
state，unharmedherselfbythepestilentialinfluence，which，asby
enchantment，shescatteredroundabouther。Hedreamed，nodoubt，that
herbeautywasnotdimmed，butbrightenedintosuperhumansplendor。
Withsuchanticipations，hestolereverentiallytothedooratwhich
thephysicianstood，butpauseduponthethresholdgazingfearfully
intothegloomofthedarkenedchamber。
“WhereistheLadyEleanore？”whisperedhe。
“Callher。”repliedthephysician。
“LadyEleanore！Princess！QueenofDeath！”criedJervaseHelwyse，
advancingthreestepsintothechamber。“Sheisnothere！There，on
yondertable，Ibeholdthesparkleofadiamondwhichonceshewore
uponherbosom。There“-andheshuddered-“therehangshermantle，
onwhichadeadwomanembroideredaspellofdreadfulpotency。But
whereistheLadyEleanore？”
Somethingstirredwithinthesilkencurtainsofacanopiedbed；and
alowmoanwasuttered，which，listeningintently，JervaseHelwyse
begantodistinguishasawoman’svoice，complainingdolefullyof
thirst。Hefancied，even，thatherecognizeditstones。
“Mythroat！mythroatisscorched。”murmuredthevoice。“Adrop
ofwater！”