“What a paradise!” said Amyas to Frank, “with the serpent in it, as of old. Look!”
And as he spoke, there dropped slowly down from a bough, right before them, what seemed a living chain of gold, ruby, and sapphire. Both stopped, and another glance showed the small head and bright eyes of a snake, hissing and glaring full in their faces.
“See!” said Frank. “And he comes, as of old, in the likeness of an angel of light. Do not strike it. There are worse devils to be fought with to-night than that poor beast.” And stepping aside, they passed the snake safely, and arrived in front of the house.
It was, as I have said, a long low house, with balconies along the upper story, and the under part mostly open to the wind. The light was still burning in the window.
“Whither now?” said Amyas, in a tone of desperate resignation.
“Thither! Where else on earth?” and Frank pointed to the light, trembling from head to foot, and pushed on.
“For Heaven's sake! Look at the negroes on the barbecue!”
It was indeed time to stop; for on the barbecue, or terrace of white plaster, which ran all round the front, lay sleeping full twenty black figures.
“What will you do now? You must step over them to gain an entrance.”
“Wait here, and I will go up gently towards the window. She may see me. She will see me as I step into the moonlight. At least I know an air by which she will recognize me, if I do but hum a stave.”