Part 31 (2/2)

”At this, the man Torqual smiled, and bowed, so that he seemed almost princely. Without another word he turned and left the villa. That is what happened this morning. I am happy to tell you, since Torqual frightens me. Clearly he can bring the Lady Melancthe only distress.”

”Your fears are well-founded,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”Still, she may choose not to deal with Torqual.”

”So it may be.”

”She is now at home?”

”Yes; as usual she sits looking out to sea.”

”I will call on her. Perhaps I can set matters straight.” Lillas spoke anxiously: ”You will not reveal that we have discussed her affairs?”

”Certainly not.”

Lillas went back to the fruit-seller's booth; s.h.i.+mrod crossed the square to the harbour road. His suspicions had been validated Melancthe's involvement in the affair might so far only be pa.s.sive and might remain so, still Melancthe's only sure trait was her unpredictability.

s.h.i.+mrod looked to the north, toward the white villa. He could find no reason for delay, save his own reluctance to confront Melancthe. He set off to the north along the beach road, walking with long deliberate strides, and soon arrived at the white stone wall. No black urn, so he noted, was visible.

s.h.i.+mrod crossed the garden, went to the door He raised the knocker and let it fall.

There was no response.

s.h.i.+mrod knocked a second time, with the same result as before.

The villa, so it seemed, was empty of its occupants. s.h.i.+mrod turned slowly away from the door, then went to stand by the side of the gate. He looked up the road to the north. In the near distance he discovered Melancthe, approaching without haste. He felt no surprise; so it had been in his dreams.

s.h.i.+mrod waited, with the sunlight glaring down upon the sand of the road. Melancthe drew near: a slender dark-haired maiden wearing a white knee-length frock and sandals. With only a brief impa.s.sive stare for s.h.i.+mrod, she turned through the gate; as she pa.s.sed, s.h.i.+mrod sensed the faint odor of violets which always accompanied her.

Melancthe went to the door. s.h.i.+mrod followed soberly and entered the villa behind her. She went along the hall and into a long room with a wide arched window overlooking the sea. Moving to the window, Melancthe stood gazing pensively toward the horizon. s.h.i.+mrod stood in the doorway, looking here and there, appraising the room. Little had changed since his last visit. The walls were washed white; on the tiled floor three rugs showed bold patterns of orange, red, black, white and green. A table, a few heavy chairs, a divan and a sideboard were the only furnis.h.i.+ngs. The walls were innocent of decoration; nowhere in the room were objects to indicate Melancthe's point of view or to suggest the bent of her personality. The rugs were vivid and vital, and would seem to be imports from the Atlas Mountains; almost certainly, so s.h.i.+mrod surmised, they had been purchased and laid down by Lillas the maid, with Melancthe taking no particular notice.

Melancthe at last turned to s.h.i.+mrod, and showed him a curious twisted smile. ”Speak, s.h.i.+mrod! Why are you here?”

”You recognize me, despite my disguise?”

Melancthe seemed taken aback. ” 'Disguise'? I notice no disguise. You are s.h.i.+mrod, as meek, quixotic and indecisive as ever.”

”No doubt,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”So much for my disguise; I cannot conceal my ident.i.ty. Have you decided upon an ident.i.ty for Melancthe?”

Melancthe made an airy gesture. ”Such talk is beside the mark. What is your business with me? I doubt that you have come to a.n.a.lyze my character.”

s.h.i.+mrod pointed to the divan. ”Let us sit; it is dreary work talking on both feet.”

Melancthe gave an indifferent shrug and dropped down upon the divan; s.h.i.+mrod seated himself beside her. ”You are as beautiful as ever.”

”So I am told.”

”At our last meeting you had developed a taste for poisonous blossoms. Is this inclination still with you?”

Melancthe shook her head. ”There are no more such blossoms to be found. I think of them often; they were wonderfully appealing; do you not agree?”

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