Came a strange and sudden fear.
With a nameless, chill foreboding,
All her fiery spirit goading,
Listened she with straining ear;
Through the dusky laurel foliage, all was silent, far and near!
Not a stealthy footfall sounded
On the tesselated floor;
Yet she saw, with secret terror,
Count Alberto, in the mirror,
Stealing through the curtained door,