Marjorie Bowen

“ A strong sense that the newcomer was observing her made Jacobea turn, almost unconsciously, her head towards him as she repeated the "Ave Maria." A tall richly-dressed man was gazing at her intently; his face was in shadow, but she could see long pearls softly gleam in his ears.
Priests and novices left the church, the monks filed out and the bent figures rose. The man stepped from the shadows as Jacobea rose to her feet, and their eyes met. ”

“ With his hands clasped behind his back, and his handsome head bent, he followed aimlessly a little path, and as he wound his way through the trees wild day-dreams stirred his blood. He was on the eve of putting himself in possession of immense power; these evil spirits whom he would force to serve him could give him anything in the world—anything in the world! ”

“ Presently a human sound forced itself on his senses, insistently, even through his abstraction. The sound of weeping, sobbing. He started, gazed about him with dazed eyes, like a blind man recovering sight, and discerned a lady upon the other side of the stream, seated on the grass, her head bowed in her right hand. Theirry paused, frowned, and hesitated. ”

“ Dirk held himself very proudly. "I will no more be questioned than I will be touched."
"Fine words for a paltry Flemish knave!" jeered one of the students.
"Words I can make good," flashed Dirk, and turned towards the college.
Joris was springing after him when Theirry caught his arm. "'Tis but a peevish youth," he said. The other shook himself free and stared after the bright figure in silk. ”

“ But the lady flushed up.
"She is an agreeable cat," she answered. "She cannot help her nature. Oh, it would be an odious cruelty to hang her!—see, she does not understand!"
Theirry, rebuked, was at a loss; he stood looking at the lady, feeling helpless and useless. She wiped her eyes with a silk handkerchief, and stood in a piteous meek silence, holding her dead bird in a trembling hand. ”

“ He was distinguished from the others by the greater richness of his dress; his robe, very voluminous and heavy, was of brown silk; he wore a gold chain twisted round his flat black cap, and his shirt was of fine lawn, laced and embroidered.
The two students doffed their hats in half-mocking recognition of the exquisite air of aloofness that was his habitual manner.
He gave them a steady look out of half-closed eyes.
"Hast learnt much to-day?" he asked.
"Aristotle is not comprehended in an afternoon," answered the student, smiling. ”

“ As this touched her, in an infamous and horrible manner, he could neither breathe it to her nor any other, and the loneliness of his miserable apprehension was an added torture. This morning he had interviewed the envoys from Germany and his chamberlain; tales of anarchy and turmoil in Rome, of rebellion in Germany had further distracted him; now alone in his little marble cabinet, he stared across the gorgeous, storm-wrapt city. Not long alone ”