“Elena! Elena! do not leave me!” exclaimed the youth in despair, winding his left arm about her neck.
“I must speak to thee,” added Death, taking Tito’s right hand and drawing him gently towards him.
“Come, let us enter,” said the youth to Elena, retreating from Death toward the villa.
“No! come with me; we must go,” said Death, pointing toward the garden gate.
Elena neither saw nor heard him; this sad privilege was reserved for the Duke of Verity alone.
“Tito, I await thee,” added the sinister personage.
The unfortunate boy shivered to the marrow of his bones. Copious tears fell from his eyes, which Elena gently brushed away. He disengaged himself from her arms and ran wildly through the garden, exclaiming between heart-rending sobs:—
“To die! to die now!”
Elena wished to follow him, but doubtless, on account of the state into which the condition of her husband had thrown her, at the first step she fell senseless to the ground.