The next day was a Saturday, and he passed it in the state of continual apprehension which was becoming his normal condition. He expected every moment to see or hear from the baffled ruffians, who would, no doubt, consider him responsible for their failure; but no word nor sign came from them, and the uncertainty drove him very near distraction. As the night approached, he almost welcomed it, as a time when the goddess herself would enlighten part of his ignorance; and he waited more impatiently than ever for her return. He was made to wait long that evening, until he almost began to think that the marble was deserted altogether; but at length, as he watched, the statue gave a long, shuddering sigh, and seemed to gaze round the saloon with vacant eyes. "Where am I?" she murmured. "Ah! I remember. Leander, while you slumbered, impious hands were laid upon this image!" "Dear me, mum; you don't say so!" exclaimed Leander. "It is the truth! From afar I felt the indignity that was purposed, and hastened to protect my image, to find it in the coarse grasp of godless outlaws. Leander, they were about to drag me away by force--away from thee!" "I'm very sorry you should have been disturbed," said Leander; and he certainly was. "So you came back and caught them at it, did you? And wh--what did you do to 'em, if I may inquire?" "I know not," she said simply. "I caused them to be filled with mad fury, and they fell upon one another blindly, and fought like wild beasts around my image until strength failed them, and they sank to the ground; and when they were able, they fled from my presence, and I saw them no more." "You--you didn't kill them outright, then?" said Leander, not feeling quite sure whether he would be glad or not to hear that they had forfeited their lives. "They were unworthy of such a death," she said; "so I let them crawl away. Henceforth they will respect our images." "I should say they would, most likely, madam," agreed Leander. "I do assure you, I'm almost glad of it myself--I am; it served them both right." "_Almost_ glad! And do you not rejoice from your heart that I yet remain to you?" "Why," said Leander, "it is, in course, a most satisfactory and agreeable termination, I'm sure." "Who knows whether, if this my image had once been removed from you, I could have found it in my power to return?" she said; "for, I ween, the power that is left me has limits. I might never have appeared to you again. Think of it, Leander." "I was thinking of it," he replied. "It quite upsets me to think how near it was." "You are moved. You love me well, do you not, Leander?" "Oh! I suppose I do," he said--"well enough." "Well enough to abandon this gross existence, and fly with me where none can separate us?" "I never said nothing about that," he answered. "But yesternight and you confessed that you were yielding--that ere long I should prevail."