He knew that he was free to dispose of his brother's enormous fortune-half of which in fact was his--as though it were all his own, and he began to rejoice in his possessions for the first time for many years.

Soon he was occupied in thinking of the furnishing of the house, which he intended to assign to the fair Sirona.

At first he thought of a simple citizen's dwelling, but by degrees he began to picture the house intended for her as fitted with shining gold, white and colored marble, many-colored Syrian carpets, nay even with vain works of the heathen, with statues, and a luxurious bath.

In increasing unrest he wandered from rock to rock, and many times as he went up and down he paused in front of the cave where Sirona was.

Once he saw her light robe, and its conspicuous gleam led him to the reflection, that it would be imprudent to conduct her to the humble fishing-village in that dress.