He was destined to be disappointed.

As he passed, a curtain was slowly withdrawn from one of the windows and revealed a vase of flowers.

He rode slowly, in hopes of seeing a face bend over the flowers; but the person who drew the curtain remained invisible.

On the piazza nothing was in motion, except the peacock strutting along, stately as a court beauty, and drawing after him his long train of jewelled plumage.

A voice, joyous as a bobolink's, sounded apparently from the garden.