Basil's face lighted up with the fires within.
"Where else but by my side? Who dares defy us and the realms of the Underworld?"
"Who, indeed?" Sidonia replied with a dark, inscrutable glance into Basil's face. "Perchance I should not love you as I do were you not as evil as you are good to look upon! I love you, even though I know your lying lips have professed love to many others, even though I know that Theodora has kindled in you all the evil passions of your soul. Beware how you play with me!"
She threw back her wide sleeves and two dazzling white arms encircled Basil's neck.
"Await me yonder," she then turned to her visitor, pointing to a chamber situated beyond the curtain. "We will talk this matter over!"
Basil retired and Sidonia busied herself, replacing the different phials in the ebony chest.
After having assured herself that everything was in its place, she picked up the lamp and disappeared behind the curtain in the background.
Deep midnight silence reigned in the gorge of Mount Aventine.