Sin would surely flee from a temple sculptured in such a shape as the body of Valentine, as a vampire would flee from the bloodless courts of the heaven of the Revelation.

Lust cannot lie at ease on a crystal couch, or rest its dark head upon a pillow of pale ivory.

And the message of this strange, unearthly youth now given in music, and to the air and the dust--for Valentine had lost knowledge of his friends--was crystalline too.

In his improvisation he journeyed through many themes of varying characters.

He hymned the knight's temptation no less than his triumph.