CHAPTER V.

A MYSTIC TRYST.


As he uttered the last words, his eyes darkened into a soft
expression of musing tenderness, and he remained silent for many
minutes, during which the entranced, almost unearthly beauty of
his face underwent a gradual change ... the mystic light that had
for a time transfigured it, faded and died away--and by degrees he
recovered all his ordinary self possession. Presently glancing at
Heliobas, who stood patiently waiting till he should have overcome
whatever emotions were at work in his mind, he smiled.

"You must think me mad!" he said. "Perhaps I am,--but if so, it is
the madness of love that has seized me. Love! ... it is a passion
I have never known before.. I have used it as a mere thread
whereon to string madrigals. a background of uncertain tint
serving to show off the brighter lines of Poesy--but now! ... now
I am enslaved and bound, conquered and utterly subdued by love!
... love for the sweetest, queenliest, most radiant creature that
ever captured or commanded the worship of man! I may SEEM mad--but
I know I am sane--I realize the actual things of this world about
me mind is--my clear, my thoughts are collected, and yet I repeat,
I LOVE! ... aye! with all the force and fervor of this strongly
beating human heart of mine;"--and he touched his breast as he
spoke. "And it comes to this, most wise and worthy Heliobas,--if
your spells have conjured up this vision of immortal youth and
grace and purity that has suddenly assumed such sovereignty over