Presently, in the brilliant moonlight, they saw the pointed roofs of the pavilion on a little rising-ground, with the forest trees coming up closely to the walls. The moon was now high in the heavens, and it was as light as day. The upper windows of the pavilion were open, and within it lights were burning. The door was opened to them before they knocked, and the keeper of the pavilion came to meet them, accompanied by a boy who took the horses. The man showed no surprise at their coming, only saying some servants of the Duchess had been there a few hours previously, and had prepared a repast in the dining-room, forewarning him that he should expect visitors. He accompanied them upstairs, for they saw nothing of the other inmates of the place. The rooms were arranged with a sort of rustic luxury, and were evidently intended for repose during the heat of the day. A plentiful and delicate collation was spread on one of the tables, with abundance of fruit and wine. The place looked like the magic creation of an enchanter’s wand, raised for purposes of evil from the unhealthy marsh, and ready to sink again, when that malific purpose was fulfilled, into the weird depths from which it rose. The old man showed them the other rooms of the apartment and left them. At the door he turned back and said,— "I should not advise the lady to sleep here; the miasma from the forest is very fatal to such as are not used to it." Inglesant looked at him, but could not perceive that he intended his word to have any deeper meaning than the obvious one. He said,— "We shall stay only an hour or two; let the horses be ready to go on." The man left them, and they sat down at the table. The repast was served in Faience ware of a strange delicate blue, and consisted of most of the delicacies of the season with a profusion of wine. "This was not ordered by the Duchess," said Lauretta. "We are safe from poison, Mignone," said Inglesant; "to destroy you as well as me would defeat all purposes. Not that I believe the Cavaliere would wish me dead. He rather hopes that I may be of use to him. Let us drink to him." And he filled a glass for Lauretta of the Monte-pulciano, the "King of Wines," and drank himself.