And presently out of the gloom a great grey shape came winging towards the
window, the heavy pinions moving ponderously with their uncanny sough. It
was an owl attracted by the light. Before that bird of evil omen, that
harbinger of death, I drew back and crossed myself. I had a sight of its
sphinx-like face and round, impassive eyes ere it circled to melt again
into the darkness, startled by any sudden movement. I closed the window
and left the room.
Very softly I crept down the passage towards my chamber, leaving the light
burning in the library, for it was not my habit to extinguish it, and I
gave no thought to the lateness of the hour.
Midway down the passage I halted. I was level with Giuliana's door, and
from under it there came a slender blade of light. But it was not this
that checked me. She was singing, Such a pitiful little heartbroken song
it was:
"Amor mi muojo; mi muojo amore mio!"
ran its last line.
I leaned against the wall, and a sob broke from me. Then, in an instant,
the passage was flooded with light, and in the open doorway Giuliana stood
all white before me, her arms held out.
CHAPTER VI
THE IRON GIRDLE
From the distance, drawing rapidly nearer and ringing sharply in the
stillness of the night, came the clatter of a mule's hooves.
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