"Put me down," she cried earnestly, as they emerged upon the flat rock of the landing, "put me down, Julius,--I dreamed you fell here."
He obeyed her, and set her on her feet, still supporting her with his arm about her waist. One passionate kiss--only one--and then they came out from the shadow of the high cliff, and saw the boat riding lightly in the moonlight, two sailors holding her off the rocks, and the rest busy on board with the sails. The water plashed musically in the little hollows, and from near by there came a deep, mysterious murmur out of the many dark caves that lined the shore.
Leonora stepped lightly in, and Julius arranged the cushions about her carefully. Neither of them spoke. With a few strong strokes of the oars the boat shot out into the breeze from the lee of the gorge. The foresail was already set, and jib and mainsail went up in a moment, wing and wing, the tapering, lateen-yards pointing to right and left, like the horns of a great, soft, white moth; the water rippled at the stern, and curled up and lapped the rudder as the sails filled, and ever swiftly and more swiftly the craft rushed down the bay in the glorious moonlight, before the steady east wind.
Julius held the tiller with one hand, and the other lovingly supported Leonora's head against his breast, as she lay along the cushions in the stern.
"Darling," he said presently, "what was the dream about my falling at the landing? You never told me."
"Dear one," he murmured, bending down, "are you so tired? Leonora--sweetheart--speak to me!"
But the strain had been too strong, and Leonora lay in his arms, whiter than death under the white moon, unconscious of Julius or of the sea. Julius saw that she had fainted.
At half past eight on the following morning Temistocle found Leonora's maid at the door of her mistress's room with an expression of blank astonishment on her face that made him laugh. He often laughed, quietly, without the least noise.
"You look exactly like a lay figure in a milliner's shop," he remarked. "Except, indeed, that you look much more stupid."
"The signora"--she began, and then trembled and looked round timidly.
"What about her?" inquired Temistocle, pricking up his ears.