She broke off with a little laugh-- "Poor Fabio! there was always a false note somewhere when he sung.
Come, Guido!" And they paced on quietly, as though their consciences were clean--as though no just retribution dogged their steps--as though no shadow of a terrible vengeance loomed in the heaven of their pilfered happiness! I watched them steadily as they disappeared in the distance--I stretched my head eagerly out from between the dark boughs and gazed after their retreating figures till the last glimmer of my wife's white robe had vanished behind the thick foliage.

They were gone--they would return no more that night.
I sprung out from my hiding-place.

I stood on the spot where they had stood.

I tried to bring home to myself the actual truth of what I had witnessed.

My brain whirled--circles of light swam giddily before me in the air--the moon looked blood-red.