from within. "With both hands I bid you welcome to my poor abode. A
traveller must not be particular, and I have only those condiments
with me which my men have brought from shipboard, knowing how poor was
the provision of your land. See, do you not already repent your
promise to sup with me?"

She pointed to the table on which sparkled cut glass of Venice and
rich wreathed ware of goldsmiths' work. On these were set out oranges
and rare fruits of the Orient, such as the young man had never seen in
his own bleak and barren land.

But the Douglas did no more than glance at the luxury of the
providing. A vision fairer and more beautiful claimed his eyes. For
even as he paused in amazement, the lady herself stood before him,
transformed and, as it seemed, glorified. In the interval she had
taken off the cloak which, while on horseback, she had worn falling
from her shoulders. A thin robe of white silk broidered with gold at
once clothed and revealed her graceful and gracious figure, even as a
glove covers but does not conceal the hand upon which it is drawn.
Whether by intent or accident, the collar had been permitted to fall
aside at the neck and showed the dazzling whiteness of the skin
beneath, but at the bosom it was secured by a button set with black
pearls which constituted the lady's only ornament.

Her arms also were bare, and showed in the lamplight whiter than milk.
She had removed the silver belt, and was tying a red silken scarf
about her waist in a manner which revealed a swift grace and lithe
sinuosity of movement, making her beauty appear yet more wonderful and
more desirable to the young man's eyes.