out upon the wall.

Linus lingered behind a little, looking out into the garden, where he
heard the soft talk and laughter of the musicians who were dispersing,
and in a moment found himself the last to go in, except for a tall
thin man, whom Linus knew only by sight and name, and who had the
reputation of eccentricity in the town; he was a secret, silent man,
tall and lean, with bright dark eyes. He was seen everywhere, but
lived alone in a melancholy tower, where he was said to study much and
observe the courses of the stars, and it was hinted by some people
that he was versed in magical books, though he passed for a Christian.
He spoke but little in company, and watched others quietly and
gravely, with something of a smile, as one might watch a child at
play. But as he belonged to an ancient family, and had a certain fame,
he was a welcome guest at many houses.

This man, whose name was Dion, came up to Linus, and with a courteous
gesture asked if he might have the honour to place himself next to
him--"We have many friends in common," he added; and Linus, who loved
to make a new friend, assented; and so they went in together, and took
their places side by side about the middle of the great table; on the
other side of Linus sat a man, with an uneasy smile, whom he did not
know, to whom Linus bowed; at first the conversation was low and
fitful; the table was abundantly furnished, and the servants were deft
and assiduous; Linus was soon satisfied with meat and drink, which
were circulated almost too plentifully; so that he contented himself
with refusing the constant proffer of food, kept his full cup
untasted, and found pleasure in the talk of Dion, who told him some
curious legends.

Soon the talk became louder and more insistent, and frequent laughter
broke out in all directions, but Linus felt more and more in a kind of
pleasant solitude with his new friend. After a pause in the talk, in
which their thoughts seemed to grapple together, Linus took courage,
and said that he was surprised to meet Dion in this company. "Yes,"
said Dion, with a slight smile, "and I confess that I was even more
surprised to meet you here; and, moreover, I saw when you came in that
you were surprised to be here yourself. You thought that you had
travelled a long way from where you began."

At those words, which seemed as though his inmost thoughts had been
read, and still more at the glance which accompanied them, Linus felt
a strang