At last she called Hermon’s name in such keen suspense that it fell upon his ear like a shrill cry.

“Ledscha,” he answered warmly, extending both hands to her in sincere sympathy; but she did not heed the movement, and her tone of calm self-satisfaction surprised him as she answered:  “So you seek me in misfortune?  Even the blind man knows how to find me here.”

“I would far rather have met you again in the greatest happiness!” he interrupted gently.  “But I am no longer blind.  The immortals again permit me, as in former days, to feast my eyes upon your marvellous beauty.”

A shrill laugh cut short his words, and the “Not blind!” which fell again and again from her lips sounded more like laughter than speech.

There are tears of grief and of joy, and the laugh which is an accompaniment of pleasure is also heard on the narrow boundary between suffering and despair.

It pierced the artist’s heart more deeply than the most savage outburst of fury, and when Ledscha gasped:  “Not blind!  Cured!  Rich and possessed of sight, perfect sight!” he understood her fully for the first time, and could account for the smile of satisfaction which had just surprised him on her lips.

He gazed at her, absolutely unable to utter a word; but she went on speaking, while a low, sinister laugh mingled with her tones:  “So this is avenging justice!  It allows us women to be trampled under foot, and holds its hands in its lap!  My vengeance!  How I have lauded Nemesis!  How exquisitely my retaliation seemed to have succeeded!  And now?  It was mere delusion and deception.  He who was blind sees.  He who was to perish in misery is permitted, with a sword at his side, to gloat over our destruction.  Listen, if the good news has not already reached you!  I, too, am condemned to death.  But what do I care for myself?  Even less than those to whom we pray and offer sacrifices for the betrayed woman.  Now I am learning to know them!  Thus Nemesis thanks me for the lavish gifts I have bestowed upon her?  Just before my end she throws you, the rewarded traitor, into my way!  I must submit to have the hated foe, whose blinding was the sole pleasure in my ruined life, look me in the face with insolent joy.”

Hermon’s quick blood boiled.

With fierce resentment he grasped her hand, which lay on the rope, pressed it violently in his strong clasp, and exclaimed, “Stop, mad woman, that I may not be forced to think of you as a poisonous serpent and repulsive spider!”

Ledscha had vainly endeavoured to withdraw her hand while he was speaking.  Now he himself released it; but she looked up at him in bewilderment, as if seeking aid, and said sadly:  “Once—­you know that yourself—­I was different—­even as long as I supposed my vengeance had succeeded.  But now?  The false goddess has baffled every means with which I sought to punish you.  Who averted the sorest ill treatment from my head?  And I was even defrauded of the revenge which it was my right, nay, my duty, to exercise.”