Silence had ensued in the temple.
Each could feel the tremor in the soul of the other.
After a time Otto stumbled blindly into the open. Stephania remained alone in rigid silence.
In frozen horror she stared into the dusk.
"The game is finished,—I have won,—oh, God forgive me—God forgive me!" she moaned. "Otto ... Otto ... Otto ..."
* * * * *
"If you would know all,—come at midnight to the churchyard near Ponte Sisto," whispered a voice close by his side, as Crescentius staggered towards the Aelian bridge.
He felt a hand upon his shoulder, turned, and saw, like some ill-omened ghost in the wintry twilight, a lean pale face staring into his own.
In the darkness, under the dense shadows of the cypress-trees he could not distinguish the features of his companion, who wore the habit of a monk.
But when Crescentius turned to reply, he was alone.