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Count Julio.
Whose echo struck upon his wary ear,
Had crossed the lower hall, and slowly now
Trod the great staircase.
Had crossed the lower hall, and slowly now
Trod the great staircase.
'Twas no robber's step,
Faint, slow, and halting ever and anon
As though in weariness. His sharpened sense
Caught, 'mid the fitful pauses of the wind,
The headlong dashing of the driven rain,
A sound of painful breathing, nay, of sobs,
Bursting, and then as suddenly suppressed.
Faint, slow, and halting ever and anon
As though in weariness. His sharpened sense
Caught, 'mid the fitful pauses of the wind,
The headlong dashing of the driven rain,
A sound of painful breathing, nay, of sobs,
Bursting, and then as suddenly suppressed.
Shuddering he stood, and, as the storm's red bolt
Leapt through the windows, lighting, as it passed,
A dusky shape that cowered at the flash,
He shrank within the chamber, and again
Listened in silence.
Nearer came the sound,—
A tall form crossed the threshold, and threw back
What seemed a heavy mantle. Then again
Glanced the pale lightning, and Count Julio knew,
By the long hair that swept her garments' hem,
Bianca!
Leapt through the windows, lighting, as it passed,
A dusky shape that cowered at the flash,
He shrank within the chamber, and again
Listened in silence.
Nearer came the sound,—
A tall form crossed the threshold, and threw back
What seemed a heavy mantle. Then again
Glanced the pale lightning, and Count Julio knew,
By the long hair that swept her garments' hem,
Bianca!
