Where shall we drink in the sweet Oracle this time?"
"At the People's Assembly Rooms," responded Thord; "But remember,
Zouche, she does not speak till nine o'clock. That means that you will
be unfit to listen!"
"You think so?" responded Zouche airily, and leaning on Thord he
stumbled onward, the two passing close in front of the doorway where
Pasquin Leroy stood concealed. "But I am more ready to understand
wisdom when drunk, than when sober, my Sergius! You do not understand.
I am a human eccentricity--the result of an _amour_ between a
fiend and an angel! Believe me! I will listen to Lotys with all my
devil-saintly soul,--you will listen to her with all your loving,
longing heart--and with us two thus attentive, the opinions of the rest
of the audience will scarcely matter! How the street reels! How the old
moon dances! So did she whirl pallidly when Antony clasped his Egyptian
Queen, and lost Actium! Remember the fate of Antony, Sergius! Kingdoms
would have been seized and controlled by men such as you are, long
before now--if there had not always been a woman in the case--a
Cleopatra--or a Lotys!"
Still laughing foolishly, he reeled onwards, Sergius Thord half-
supporting, half-leading him, with grave carefulness and brotherly
compassion. They were soon out of sight; and Pasquin Leroy, leaving his
dark hiding-place, crossed the bridge with an alert step, and mounted a
steep street leading to the citadel.
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