CHAPTER IV
I remember one afternoon wandering through the grounds alone, hating my empty existence, yet having no power to alter it, when I was interrupted by Vestné coming to me. In her eyes there gleamed that curious, brilliant light which characterised them at times, when stung to answer or excited by some emotion.
She did not speak till near me, and then she said, quickly and distinctly,—
“Genius, I do not think you have yet seen all through my palace. Though you have not asked to do so I cannot think but that you must be curious. If you will come with me I will show it you now.”
With little answer I followed her back to the door from which I had come out, and we re-entered the palace. Hitherto I had only been acquainted with those principal apartments which led from the large hall and from each other.
But now she led me to a large folding-door at the upper end, remote from the end by which I had entered on the day when first I came.
I had often looked towards this door with curiosity. There was a darkness and mystery about it which had caught even my uncaring thoughts.
Many a time too I had seen a slave pass through it, either in or out, and in the momentary opening I had noticed the blackness beyond.
I remember as we passed through this heavy door a terrible silence greeted us, so terrible that whereas without there had been light and warmth, here one experienced neither. I stood still. A feeling of utter repugnance overwhelmed me, that feeling of undeniable degradation which had overwhelmed me when touched by the stunted woman long ago. “I do not wish to see this place,” I cried.
“Are you afraid?” she asked scornfully.