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th her？
Finally my heart was under my control。 I could endure with what I had learnt from the young vampire。 I would soon e upon Pandora； I knew it。
As for the other ancient one； she who had walked through the fire； I could not then imagine who it was though I think I know now。 Indeed； I'm almost certain of it。 I wonder what pulled her out of her secretive ways to visit some merciful release upon Santino's followers。
At last the night was almost spent； and I went home to be with my ever patient Bianca。
When I came down the stone steps of the cellar； I found her asleep against her coffin as if she'd been waiting for me。 She was in a long nightgown of sheer white silk； tied at the wrists； and her hair was glossy and flowing。
I lifted her； kissed her closing eyes； and then put her down to her rest； and kissed her again as she lay there。
〃Did you find Santino？〃 she asked in a drowsy voice。 〃Did you
punish him？〃
〃No；〃 I said。 〃But I will some night in the years to e。 Only time itself can rob me of that special pleasure。〃
32
IT WAS BIANCA who gave me the news。 It was early evening； and I was writing a letter which I would later send to my latest confidante in the Talamasca。 The windows were open to the breeze off the Elbe。
Bianca rushed into the room and told me immediately。
〃It's Pandora。 I know it。 I've seen her。〃
I rose from the desk。
I took her in my arms。
〃How do you know？〃 I asked。
〃They're dancing now at the Court Ball； she and her Asian lover。 Everyone was whispering about them； how beautiful they are。 The Marquis and the Marquisa De Malvrier。 I heard their heartbeats as soon as I entered the ballroom。 I caught their strange vampiric scent。 How can one describe it？〃
〃Did she see you？〃
〃Yes； and I put a portrait of you in my mind； my love；〃 she said。 〃We locked eyes； she and I。 Go to her。 I know how much you want to see her。〃
I gazed down at Bianca for a long moment。 I peered into her lovely oval eyes and then I kissed her。 She was exquisitely dressed in a charming ball gown of violet silk and never had she looked more splendid。 I kissed her as warmly as I have ever done。
After that； I went at once to my closets and dressed for the ball； putting on my finest crimson frock coat and all the requisite lace； and then the large curly wig which was the fashion then。
I hurried down the steps to my carriage。 When I looked back I saw Bianca on the pavilion above gazing down at me。 She lifted her hand to her lips； and blew a kiss to me。
As soon as I entered the Ducal Palace I sensed the presence of the Asian； and indeed before I ever reached the doors of the ballroom； he emerged from the shadows of an anteroom and put his hand on my arm。
Oh； for so long I had heard about this evil being； and now I confronted him。 From India； yes； and most beautiful with large liquid black eyes； and a creamy brown skin that was flawless。 He smiled at me with his smooth； enticing mouth。
His satin frock coat was a dark blue； and his lace was intricate and extravagant。 It seemed he was studded with immense diamonds； diamonds from India where diamonds are worshiped。 He had a fortune in rings on his hands。 He wore a fortune in buckles and buttons。
〃Marius；〃 he said。 He gave me a small formal bow； as though he were doffing his hat when in fact he wore none。 〃Of course；〃 he said； 〃you are going to see Pandora。〃
〃You mean to stop me？〃 I asked。
〃No；〃 he said with an idle shrug。 〃How could you imagine such a thing？〃 His tone was courteous。 〃Marius； I assure you； she has cast off many another。〃 He seemed perfectly sincere。
〃So I've been told；〃 I said。 〃I must see her。 You and I can speak later on。 I must go to her。〃
〃Very well；〃 he said。 〃I am patient。〃 He shrugged again。 〃I am always patient。 My name is Arjun。 I'm glad that we've finally e together。 Even with the Roman rogue； Santino； who claimed to have annihilated you I was patient。 She was so miserable then and I wanted to punish him。 But I did not。 I followed her wishes and left him unharmed。 What a dejected creature he was。 How he loved her。 I followed her wishes as I've said。 I'll follow her wishes tonight； as I always do。〃
〃That's very good of you；〃 I replied； my throat so tight I could scarcely utter the words。 〃Let me go now。 I have waited longer than you can possibly imagine for this moment。 I can't stand here and
converse with you as though she weren't steps away from me。〃
〃I can imagine how long you've waited；〃 he said。 〃I am older than you think。〃
I nodded； and I slowly withdrew from him。
I couldn't bear it anymore。
Immediately I entered the immense ballroom。
The orchestra was playing one of the soft fluid dances so popular in those times； nothing as spirited as music would later bee； and the lavish room was full of radiant faces and busy dancing figures； and myriad colors。
I peered through the happy crowd； moving slowly along one wall and then another。
Quite suddenly I saw her。 She didn't know I was there。 Her panion had sent her no mental warning。
She was sitting alone； artfully dressed in her fashionable clothes； her satin bodice very tight and graceful； her ornate skirts huge； and her lovely white face framed by her natural brown hair drawn back and up in a fancy style with rubies and diamonds。
I leant against the clavichord； smiling benevolently at the musician who played it with such skill； and then I turned to gaze at her。
How sad was her expression； how remote； how unutterably beautiful。
Was she watching the colors of the room as I watched them？ Did she feel the same gentle love for mortals which I felt？ What would she do when she realized I was watching her？
I didn't know。 I was afraid。 I couldn't know anything until I heard the sound of her voice。 I continued to look。 I continued to savor this moment of bliss and safety。
Suddenly； she saw me。 She picked me out of the hundreds of faces。 Her eyes fixed on me； and I saw the blood rush into her beautiful cheeks and her mouth opened to speak the name Marius。
I heard it over the thin sweet music。
I raised my fingers to my lips； just as Bianca had done only a little while ago； and I blew a kiss to her。
How sad and happy at once she seemed； her mouth opened in a half smile as she gazed at me。 She seemed as frozen in her place as I was。
But this was intolerable。 What were these volumes of silence which divided us！
Quickly I crossed the dance floor and bowed before her。 I lifted her cold white hand； and led her out and into the dance； and would take no resistance from her。
〃No； you're mine； you're mine； do you hear？〃 I whispered。 〃Don't pull away from me。〃
〃Marius； I fear him and he is strong；〃 she whispered in my ear。 〃I must explain to him that we've found each other。〃
〃I don't fear him。 Besides he knows。 What does it matter？〃
We were dancing as if we said no such things to one another。 I held her tight and kissed her cheeks。 I didn't care what the mortals around us might think of this impropriety。 How very absurd was the whole notion。
〃Pandora； my blessed love； if only you could know how long I've waited。 What use is it to tell you now that from the very beginning I have missed you in pure agony？ Pandora； listen to me； don't close your eyes； don't look away。 I knew within the year； the very year； that I had made a dreadful error！〃
I realized that I was turning her too violently： I was pressing her hand too hard。 I had lost the cadence of the dance。 The music was a strange shrill noise in my ears。 I had lost control of everything。
She pulled back to look into my eyes。 〃Take me out on the pavilion；〃 she said。 〃We can talk in the river breeze。 The music makes me dizzy。〃 Immediately I led her through a huge pair of doors and we found ourselves on a stone bench overlooking the river。
I shall never forget how clear it was that night； how much the stars seemed in my favor； and how brilliant the light of the moon on the Elbe。 All around us were pots of flowers； and other couples or groups of mortals who had e to gain a little air before returning to the ballroom。
But in the main we had the shadows to ourselves and I gave way to kissing her。 I felt her perfect cheeks beneath my lips。 I kissed her throat。 I felt her brown hair with its tight waves； which I had so often painted on my wild nymphs as they ran through my thick gardens。 I wanted to pull it loose。
〃Don't leave me again；〃 I said。 〃No matter what is said between us tonight。 Don't leave me。〃
〃Marius； it was you who left me；〃 she said； and I heard a tremor in her voice which frightened me。 〃Marius； that was so long ago；〃 she said sadly。 〃Marius； I wandered so far and wide searching for you。〃
〃Yes； yes； I admit to all；〃 I said。 〃I admit to every error。 How could I guess what it meant to break the tie？ Pandora； I didn't know！ Yea gods； I didn't know！ Believe me； I didn't know。 Tell me you will leave this creature； Arjun； and e back to me。 Pandora； I want nothing short of this！ I can't make pretty words。 I can't recite old poems。
Pandora； look at me。〃
〃I am looking at y