hair, and it flowed in the Venetian fashion over her white shoulders,
sparkling with an inner fire--each fine silken thread, as it glittered
separate from its fellows, twining like a golden snake.

And the ripple of her laughter played upon the young man's heart
carelessly as a lute is touched by the hands of its mistress.
Something of the primitive glamour of the night and the stars clung to
this woman. It seemed a thing impossible that she should be less pure
than the air and the waters, than the dewy grass beneath and the sky
cool overhead. He knew not that the devil sat from the first day of
creation on Eden wall, that human sin is all but as eternal as human
good, and that passion rises out of its own ashes like the phoenix
bird of fable and stands again all beautiful before us, a creature of
fire and dew.

Presently the lady rose to her feet, and gave the Earl her hand to
lead her to a couch.

"Set a footstool by me," she bade him, "I desire to talk to you."

"You know not my name," she said, after a pause that was like a
caress, "though I know yours. But then the sun in mid-heaven cannot be
hidden, though nameless bide the thousand stars. Shall I tell you
mine? It is a secret; nevertheless, I will tell you if such be your
desire."

"I care not whether you tell me or no," he answered, looking up into
her face from the low seat at her feet. "Birth cannot add to your
beauty, nor sparse quarterings detract from your charm. I have enough
of both, good lack! And little good they are like to do me."