The Interview

"Lady, it is quite useless for you to struggle, as you are irrevocably
in my power, but if you will promise faithfully not to make any outcry,
and will submit to be blindfolded, I shall remove this oppressive
muffling from your head. Tell me if you will promise."

He had partly raised the shawl, and a gush of free air came revivingly
in, and enabled Leoline to gasp out a faint "I promise!" As she spoke,
it was lifted off altogether, and she caught one bright fleeting glimpse
of the river, sparkling and silvery in the moonlight; of the bright blue
sky, gemmed with countless stars, and of some one by her side in the
dress of a court-page, whose face was perfectly unknown to her. The next
instant, a bandage was bound tightly over her eyes, excluding every ray
of light, while the strange voice again spoke apologetically, "Pardon, lady, but it is my orders! I am commanded to treat you with
every respect, but not to let you see where you are borne to."

"By what right does Count L'Estrange commit this outrage!" began
Leoline, almost as imperiously as Miranda herself, and making use of her
tongue, like a true woman, the very first moment it was at her disposal.
"How dare he carry me off in this atrocious way? Whoever you are, sir,
if you have the spirit of a man, you will bring me directly back to my
own house."

"I am very sorry, lady, but I have received orders that must be obeyed!
You must come with me, but you need fear nothing; you will be an safe
and secure as in your own home."