or the sky were clear beyond, they could see the huge, gaunt
figure outlined with grim distinctness against the empty background,
always with his face to the sea, and with a long black cloak flowing
behind. It was not often that they saw him, but when they did they
told one another in whispers; and though the sky were cloudless and
the sea calm, the women whose husbands were out in their fishing boats
beyond the bay told their beads and prayed for their safe return, and
those who had remained behind prepared for rough weather. Once, at
a marriage feast, when all the little village was making merry, the
whisper had gone about that "the Count was walking;" and immediately
they had all departed for their homes in fear and silence, and the
luckless bride and bridegroom had hastened to the priest and besought
him to unloose the knot, that they might celebrate their wedding on
some less ill-omened day.

To-night the storm was already breaking when the Count appeared on the
castle wall and turned his face seaward. One by one the fishing smacks
were crossing the gathering line of surf, and gaining the deep, still
waters of the bay. As they passed underneath the towering mass of
granite rock, against the base of which the waters were boiling and
seething, the men in the boats gazed fearfully up at that black speck
far away above their heads, and crossed themselves. The Count had
stood there for an hour, they whispered, ever since that piled-up mass
of angry, lurid clouds had first gathered, and a warning breath of
wind had swept across the smooth, glass-like surface of the water, now
troubled and restless. Not one of them doubted but that his coming had
brought the storm; but there was not one of them who dared to utter
a word of complaint. Only they stood up in their boats, and shielding
their eyes with an uplifted hand from the fierce rays of the sinking
sun, gazed out seaward, searching for the boats not yet in safety.

Suddenly a little murmur arose from amongst them, and a word was
passed from one to another of their little crafts. The blinding glare
of the sun and its reflection, stretched far away across the surface
of the sea, had dazzled their eyes, and for the last quarter of an
hour they had seen nothing on the westward horizon. But now the bright
silver light was fading into a dull, glorious purple; and full upon
its bosom a strange sail was seen, making direct for the harbour. The
sunlight was still flashing upon i