"And thy feet and thy hands, O Lord, are as the young leaves of plants!"
To which he replied through the teeth that were closed.
"And thine so small, so dear, are as lotus buds—lotus buds swaying at dawn in the wind of love."
She smiled divinely as she stretched one perfect bare foot from under her garment, and bent her head to catch the words as he passionately whispered the Vega hymn.
"Want thou the body of me, the feet; want thou the eyes; want the thighs; let the eyes, the hair of thee, desiring me, dry up in love.
"I make thee cling to my arm, cling to my heart; that thou mayest be in my power, come unto my intent.
"They——"
He stopped, convulsed with passion, and bending kissed her feet.
"Ah! thy hands, thy feet, are like lotus buds—lotus buds which I love, even if they be drenched in blood."
He leapt to his feet and caught Leonie's wrist in the vice of his hand as she sprang upright in one movement, laughing as she pointed at his mouth.