“I also am clairvoyant,” said the Italian. “I see beyond those mountains a happy country where ambition never thwarts true love, and partings are unknown. It is the promised land of the heart.”
“I see farther yet,” said the German. “Beneath that cliff is your El Dorado. Beside it is your Love’s paradise. But farther yet, hemmed in by precipices, is a great black castle of which Castle Dylar is but an offshoot. There dwells a princess held in bonds by a fierce giant. He wishes to marry her, would give her all the gold you see, and make her queen over your paradise; and she will not. If I could pass this wall, if I could thread the labyrinth of gorges leading to that castle, I should find her there, dark and splendid and stately. She is as free and fierce as an Arab. She is as tender as a dove. She looks like a goddess. Her name is—is—Io.”
They ate their luncheon in the green fragrant shadows. The viscomte went into the house while the other two smoked their cigarettes, dreaming with half-closed eyes, till they were startled by an excited call from the house: “Come here! Come!”
They hastened to obey.
“I have found a secret door!” said the Frenchman’s voice from under the stair. “It is surely a door! The wall moves. See! it retreats an inch or two without displacing a stone. Let us get sticks and pry it open. We are on the eve of a discovery!”
CHAPTER XXIX.
Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation. The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained. Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends. Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
Dylar was busiest of all. He had gone up to his cottage, which might still be called his study, to prepare letters of direction, and plans which would be supplemented by Iona’s word.
In the little terrace of their house sat Tacita and Iona with the child.