Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/238

 one tragic point. He could see nothing but those white, sinuous, affectionate feet that had been destroyed through his fault. He saw them running over the rocks, or moving in a graceful dance; he saw them stark and dead, showing almost severe and threatening from under the mist of the light covering. The sun madly beat down upon the earth, the crickets chirped their metallic, deafening song, the blood in his temples was throbbing, but all these sounds melted into one, and the aged, embittered man heard only the sound of waves dashing against rocks that were spattered with blood which he had wantonly wasted.

The laughter of a young thing, apparently approaching him, suddenly startled him from his dream. At the same time he saw a pair of graceful, light, sinuous and gentle feet, which together with the laugh produced an effect of something musical and irresponsible. An intoxication as from the aroma of a fine hock rose to the count’s head and deceived him with a mad anticipation.

A number of young women and girls ran past him with their skirts tucked up high; some were carrying rakes on their shoulders. About a dozen naked feet danced and floated past him, but only one pair belonged to her;