e, and my
later belief concerning him was quite confirmed. Dismissing him from my
mind, I entered a biroccio and drove to the Caffe. Arthur had left long
since, with a message for me to the effect that he would be at home at
Posilipo at eleven o'clock. Perhaps he had gone to the Opera, I thought,
and with the intention of discovering him I wandered from the Caffe. The
evening was very beautiful, and I changed my mind. I would roam along by
the bay and enjoy the sunset, and give myself up to the delights of the
country. As I wandered on, my thoughts ran back to Cecilia, and I had
another inward battle with myself. I found myself, in the excitement of
my thoughts, walking faster and faster until I was far from the city,
and alone in a country lane with the moonlight. The moon was up, and
up at the full, before the sun was down; and so soon as the gathering
twilight gave her power, she bathed the landscape in so lovely a light
that even my sore and troubled heart grew tranquil to behold it. I stood
near an abrupt turning in the lane, and watched the tremor in the soft
lustre of the bay, which looked as though innumerable great jewels rose
slowly to its surface and there melted and were lost, whilst all
the time innumerable others took the place of these dissolving gems,
themselves dissolving in their turn, whilst countless others slowly
rose. Here and there was a light upon the water, and here and there the
shadow of a boat. And, far away, like the audible soul of the sea, was
the soft, soft sound of music, where some boating party sang together.

To say that the cry came suddenly would be to say nothing. There came
a shriek of appalling fear close by, which tore the air with terror.
I took one step and listened. For a second I heard the rumbling of
carriage wheels at a distance, and not another sound, but that of the
faint music far away. Then came a foot-step at racing pace nearer and
nearer, then a trip and a long stagger, as though the runner had nearly
fallen, and then the headlong pace again. And then, with the soft broad
moon-light full upon his face, a man came darting round the corner of
the lane. I strove to move aside, but before I could lift a foot he was
upon me like an avalanche. I knew that we fell together, and that the
man arose and resumed his headlong course. I tried to call after him,
but found no voice. I tried to rise, but could not move a limb. Then a
sickly shudder ran through me, and I fainted.