"Do you remain in Paris?" I asked.
"For a few days only. I shall go to Egypt, and in travelling accustom myself to the solitude in which I must dwell, now Zara has left me."
"You have Azul," I ventured to remark.
"Ah! but how often do I see her? Only when my soul for an instant is clear from all earthly and gross obstruction; and how seldom I can attain to this result while weighted with my body! But she is near me--that I know--faithful as the star to the mariner's compass!"
He raised his head as he spoke, and his eyes flashed. Never had I seen him look more noble or kingly. The inspired radiance of his face softened down into his usual expression of gentleness and courtesy, and he said, offering me his arm: "Let me see you to the carriage. You know, it is not an actual parting with us--I intend that we shall meet frequently. For instance, the next time we exchange pleasant greetings will be in Italy."
I suppose I looked surprised; I certainly felt so, for nothing was further from my thoughts than a visit to Italy.
Heliobas smiled, and said in a tone that was almost gay: "Shall I draw the picture for you? I see a fair city, deep embowered in hills and sheltered by olive-groves. Over it beams a broad sky, deeply blue; many soft bells caress the summer air. Away in the Cascine Woods a gay party of people are seated on the velvety moss; they have mandolins, and they sing for pure gaiety of heart. One of them, a woman with fair hair, arrayed in white, with a red rose at her bosom, is gathering the wild flowers that bloom around her, and weaving them into posies for her companions. A stranger, pacing slowly, book in hand, through the shady avenue, sees her--her eyes meet his. She springs up to greet him; he takes her hand. The woman is yourself; the stranger no other than your poor friend, who now, for a brief space, takes leave of you!"
So rapidly had he drawn up this picture, that the impression made on me was as though a sudden vision had been shown to me in a magic glass. I looked at him earnestly.
"Then our next meeting will be happy?" I said inquiringly.
"Of course. Why not? And the next--and the next after that also!" he answered.
At this reply, so frankly given, I was relieved, and accompanied him readily through the hall towards the street-door. Leo met us here, and intimated, as plainly as a human being could have done, his wish to bid me good-bye. I stooped and kissed his broad head and patted him affectionately, and was rewarded for these attentions by seeing his plume-like tail wave slowly to and fro--a sign of pleasure the poor animal had not betrayed since Zara's departure from the scene of her earthly imprisonment.