"My love, if I were a transcendental visionary, I might say, that at the hour you saw my image before you, my thoughts, my mind, my spirit, whatever you choose to call my inner self, was actually with you, and so became visible to you; but--" he paused. "But--what?" she inquired. "Not being a transcendentalist or a visionary, I am forced to the conclusion that what you thought you saw, was, really nothing but an optical illusion!" "You think that?" "Indeed I do!" "I assure you, that the image seemed as real, as substantial, and as solid to me then as you do now." "No doubt of it! Optical illusions always seem very real--perfectly real." "It was an optical illusion then! That is settled! And now!" exclaimed Salome. Then she paused. "Yes, and now! About the sinful dream! What did you dream of? Throwing me over at the last moment and marrying a handsomer man?" gayly inquired the young marquis. "I will tell you presently what I dreamed; but first tell me, were you in our grounds last night?" she gravely inquired. "Yes, my little lady; but how did you know of it?" inquired the young marquis in surprise. "I did not know it. Were you under my window?" she asked, in a low, tremulous tone. "Yes, love. How came you to suspect me?" he inquired, more than ever astonished. "I did not suspect you. Had you a companion with you?" she murmured. "No, Salome. Certainly not. Why, sweet, do you ask me?" "I thought I heard your voice speaking to some one who answered you under my window." "But, love, there was no one with me. I was quite alone. And I did not speak at all--not even to myself. I am not in the habit of soliloquizing." "Please tell me, if you can, at what hour you were under my window." "It was between ten and eleven o'clock. I was walking in the grounds, and I went under your wall and looked up. I saw three shadows pass the lighted windows, which I took to be those of yourself and your attendants, and then suddenly the lights were turned off and all was dark. I knew then that you had retired to rest, and of course I turned away and walked back to the hamlet. But, love, instead of telling the little story you promised, it seems that you have put me through a very sharp examination," said his lordship, laughing. "Now, what do you mean by it? There is something behind all this," he added, gravely.