The tissues of old Malakh's ashen face and throat and pallid hands were undergoing some subtle transfiguration.

It was as if new blood had come encroaching in their veins.

It was as if the muscles were become firm and full, as if the wrinkled skin had been made smooth, the lips grown fresh, as if--the word came to St.George as he stared, spell-stricken--as if _youth_ had returned.
St.George slipped down upon the stones and sat motionless.

There was a little blue, forked vein on the man's forehead, and upon this he fastened his eyes, mechanically following it downward and back.
Lines had crossed it, and there had been a deep cleft between the eyes, but these had disappeared, leaving the brow almost smooth.

The cheeks were now tinged with colour, and the throat, where he had pulled aside the robe, showed firm and white.