Her eyes opened, and she looked up with a stolid gaze.
'Yes. What didst thou say?'
'Art thou better, Nika?'
'Perhaps so. I dreamt a lovely dream.'
'And what was it?'
'I saw Chios walking unfettered amongst the sons of Jove. He said, "I am free; I will come to thee."'
'But he is not dead, my sweet girl.'
'Not dead? not dead?'
'No; he is pardoned.'
'Pardoned?' cried the maid, springing to her feet and looking around as if still in a dream. 'Pardoned? Pardoned? Why? By whom?'