It was when the dance swelled gayest, when the minstrels gave forth their most joyous notes, when all around was life and music and the waters of joy came bubbling to the brim of every heart, that a strange voice, deep, and whispering in its tones, broke over the very heart of Adrian.
“Man, thou art full of joy, and around thee every cheek glows with health, every eye sparkles with life. Behold, I show thee the Mysterie of Life and Death! Thou art doomed to return to this Festal Hall, one hundred years from this night, when thou shalt behold the Festal Scene, which death will open to thy gaze!”
And at the very word, Adrian lost his bride in the throng of dancers, and all grew dark as midnight.
The music and the dancers, the forms and beauty and the pillared hall, all, all were gone, and a strange consciousness was impressed upon the brain of Adrian, that one hundred years from the festal night had passed away, and that he had been wrapt in slumber for a long and dreary century of time.
THE MYSTERIE OF DEATH.
He stood in the court-yard of the ancient castle yet again.
A broad blaze of light poured from the windows of the festal hall, while the peals of strange and unknown music broke murmuringly on the air.
Adrian gazed around the court-yard, with a feeling of awe, gathering heavy and dark around his heart.
There was the castle yard, the same as in the olden time, yet not altogether the same.
Gleams of moonlight stole through the chinks in the tottering walls of the court-yard, wild vines threw their long branches from among the age-worn stones, and the owl, like a thing of evil omen disturbed the air with its sullen murmur.