"Ah, Joconde!" she whispered, "'t is madness--madness! Ah, Joconde!" But swift he came and swung himself upon the balcony beside her and reached out his arms in mute supplication, viewing her wistfully but with scarred face transfigured by smile ineffably tender, and when he spoke his voice was hushed and reverent.
"I am here, Yolande, because methought to read within thy look the wonder of all wonders. But, O my lady, because I am but what I am, fain would I hear thee speak it also."
"Joconde," said she in breathless voice, "wouldst shame me--?"
"Shame?" he cried. "Shame? Can there be aught of shame in true love? Or is it that my ass's ears do shame thee, my cock's-comb and garments pied shame the worship of this foolish heart, and I, a Fool, worshipping thee, shame thee by such worship? Then--on, cock's-comb! Ring out, silly bells! Fool's love doth end in folly! Off love--on folly--a Fool can but love and die."
"Stay, Joconde; ah, how may I tell thee--? Why dost thou start and fumble with thy dagger?"
"I heard an owl hoot in the shadows yonder, no more."
"True, lady, but now shall this owl croak like a frog--hearken! Aha--and now shall frog bark like dog--"
"That thou, proud lady, must this night choose betwixt knightly rogue and motley Fool--here be two evils with yet a difference--"
"Here shall be wild doings anon, lady, methinks. Hush thee and listen!"
A jangle of bridle-chains, a sound of voices loud and rough, and a tread of heavy feet that, breaking rudely upon the gentle-brooding night, drove the colour from Yolande's soft cheek and hushed her voice to broken whisper:
"Wolves, lady, wolves that come to raven--see yonder!" Even as he spake they espied armed men who, bold and assured by reason of the solitude, moved in the garden below; and on back and breast of each was the sign of the Bloody Hand.
"My Lord Gui's followers! Alas, Joconde, these mean thee ill--here is death for thee!" Now as she spake, Jocelyn thrilled to the touch of her hand upon his arm, a hand that trembled and stole to clasp his. "Alas, Joconde, they have tracked thee hither to slay thee--"
"And were this so, wouldst fly with me, Yolande? Wouldst trust thy beauties to a Fool's keeping?"
"Nay, nay, this were madness, Joconde; rather will I hide thee--aye, where none shall dare seek thee--come!"
