Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 2.djvu/132

Rh profanatíon to his idol, so much blasphemy against the woman who had been with him in the pure stillness of the Grotto Azzuro. The sun above the eastward circle of the bay rose, breaking over the sea, while te stars were still seen through its golden haze, in which they would, with another moment, die. Idalia looked at the sun, then left the gaming-table. "There is the day rebuking us. Good-night!"

As she spoke she paused one moment, the full fresh light of the broken morning falling upon her, while around was still the wax-glare of the chandeliers; the pure light lay before her, the impure glitter was behind. She paused one moment, looking seaward, then turned negligently to her guests and dismissed them, with much carelessness, little ceremonial.

Viana pursued her with eager whispered words; she put him aside with a coquette's amusement and a graceful gesture of denial, and passed out, while the Nubian appeared and followed her. The Prince, with stormy petulant anger on his face, left the room with his equerry. The others went out one by one. Erceldoune remained silent and motionless, he neither saw nor heard what passed before him; he