n, who only a few
hours since, had declared herself ready, with him, to hope all things,
to believe all things, and to accept his protection--that lordly maiden
whom he had been glad to bid fix her eye, with him, on the goal of
his future efforts, whose pure gaze could restrain his passion and
impetuosity as by a charm, and who yet granted him the right to strive
to possess her--that proud daughter of heroes, whom even his father
would have clasped to his heart as a daughter--was it possible that
she should betray him like some pleasure-seeking city beauty? Could she
forget her dignity as a woman?--No! and a thousand times no. To doubt
her was to insult her--was to wrong her and himself.

The physician loved her; but it certainly was not any warmer feeling
than friendship on her part that made her receive him at this late hour.
The shame would be his own, if he ever again allowed such base suspicion
to find place in his soul!

He breathed a deep sigh of relief. And when his servant, who had
lingered to pay the toll at the bridge, came up with him, Orion
dismounted and desired him to lead his horse home, for he himself wished
to return on foot, alone with his thoughts. He walked meditatively and
slowly under the sycamores, but he had not gone far when, on the other
side of the deserted road, he heard some one overtaking him with long,
quick strides. He recognized the leech Philippus at a glance and was
glad, for this proved to him how senseless and unjust his doubts had
been, and how little ground he had for regarding the physician as a
rival; for indeed this man did not look like a happy lover. He hurried
on with his head bent, as though under a heavy burthen, and clasped
his hand to his forehead with a gesture of despair. No, this nocturnal
wanderer had left no hour of bliss behind him; and if his demeanor was
calculated to rouse any feeling it was not envy, but pity.

Philippus did not heed Orion; absorbed in himself, he strode on, moaning
dully, as if in pain. For a few minutes he disappeared into a house
whence came loud cries of suffering, and when he came out again, he
walked on, shaking his head now and then, as a man who sees many things
happen which his understanding fails to account for.

The end of his walk was a large, palatial building. The stucco had
fallen off in places, and in the upper story the windows had been broken
away till their open ings were a world too wide. In former times this
house had a