When we returned, the Regent's carriage was standing by the gate, and two others were waiting at a little distance in the rear.

The Regent, with a companion, was already seated, and as soon as we reached the gate, Eveena appeared.

She was enveloped from head to foot in a cloak of something like swans-down covering her whole figure, loose, like the ordinary outer garments of both sexes, and gathered in at the waist by a narrow zone of silver, with a sort of clasp of some bright green jewel; and a veil of white satin-looking material covered the whole head and face, and fell half-way to the waist.

Her gloved right hand was hidden by the sleeve of her cloak; that of the left arm was turned back, and the hand which she gave me as I handed her to the seat on my left was bare--a usage both of convenience and courtesy.

At Esmo's request, the Regent, who led the way, started at a moderate pace, not exceeding some ten miles an hour.