As often he stood under the opening in the roof, and pondered the sky and its azure depth; then, leaning against a pillar, he studied the distribution of light and shade, and its effects; here a veil diminishing objects, there a brilliance exaggerating others; yet nobody came.

Time, or rather the passage of time, began at length to impress itself upon him, and he wondered why Iras stayed so long.

Again he traced out the figures upon the floor, but not with the satisfaction the first inspection gave him.

He paused often to listen: directly impatience blew a little fevered breath upon his spirit; next time it blew stronger and hotter; and at last he woke to a consciousness of the silence which held the house in thrall, and the thought of it made him uneasy and distrustful.

Still he put the feeling off with a smile and a promise.