He wore again his arms, and his purple cloak was about him, for he had his duty to perform in visiting the fortress.

The starlight glimmered faintly on his polished helmet and duskily made visible his marble features and his beard.

He stood with his back to the pillars of the balustrade, looking towards the myrtles of the garden, for he knew that Nehushta would come to the wonted tryst.

He waited long, but at last he heard a step upon the gravel path and the rustle of the myrtles, and presently in the faint light he could see the white skirt of her garment beneath the dark mantle moving swiftly towards him.

He sprang forward to meet her and would have taken her in his arms, but she put him back and looked away from him while she walked slowly to the front of the terrace.