His silence, his attention, had alarmed the fears of the other revellers,--they only excited me the more.

Rapt in my subject, I pursued it, insensible to the signs of those about me; and, addressing myself only to the silent mask who sat alone, apart from the group, I did not even observe that, one by one, the revellers slunk off, and that I and the silent listener were left alone, until, pausing from my heated and impetuous declamations, I said,-- "'And you, signor,--what is your view of this mighty era?
Opinion without persecution; brotherhood without jealousy; love without bondage--' "'And life without God,' added the mask as I hesitated for new images.
"The sound of that well-known voice changed the current of my thought.

I sprang forward, and cried,-- "'Imposter or Fiend, we meet at last!' "The figure rose as I advanced, and, unmasking, showed the features of Mejnour.

His fixed eye, his majestic aspect, awed and repelled me.

I stood rooted to the ground.
"'Yes,' he said solemnly, 'we meet, and it is this meeting that I have sought.