They sat there in silence for some time, and then, drawing a deep breath, the king said:
"Oh, Irma! There is one moment which is as eternity--there parting is unknown. In the world below, men reckon by hours and minutes, but to those who dwell in the heaven above, the earth is no longer visible."
Irma looked up. Bruno and his wife had gone. She was alone with the king.
She longed to fall on her knees before him, to clasp him in her ardent embrace. With powerful effort, she forced herself to remember her surroundings. The music, the lights, the gay figures: all was a confused jumble. She opened her lips but could not utter a word. She arose quickly and with trembling step left the room.
The king left the ball soon after.
It was late at night. Walpurga, her heart filled with sadness, stood looking out of the window of the room over Irma's apartments.
Light clouds were passing over the sky, now covering the moon, and then again revealing it in all its splendor.
The light fell full on the figure of the Venus de Milo, and she seemed to turn her face.
Walpurga bounded away from the window, and was so frightened that she did not venture again to return to the open casement.
The same ray of moonlight that shone upon the Venus de Milo rested tremblingly on the lips of the statue which the king had kissed.... The gods were astir that moonlight night....