How vivid the life of the past weeks stood out before Francesco's eyes, a life crowned by the memory of his arrival in this Siren City, and his strange meeting with Ilaria. It seemed like a mocking dream; yet, the pain in his heart informed him, it was true!
How long he had stood there, he did not know, when he suddenly gave a start.
An opening door,—a light foot-fall—he stood face to face with Ilaria.
She paused; stately, unsmiling, reserved. A white silence seemed to enfold her as their eyes met.
"There is some error," she said, with a retrograde movement. "I will withdraw—"
"There is no error!" the words leaped from Francesco's lips. "Or perchance there is! Well,—is it true?"
The words were uttered almost brutally.
"I do not understand!" she replied icily.
"Why are you at Naples?"
His face was a mere whiteness amid shadows.