He led the astrologer up the grand sweeping staircases--up and up, to the very top of the house--to the lofty, lonely battlements.

Cloudless spread the wide night sky; countless and brilliant shone the stars; peaceful and majestic slept, the purple sea; spotless white gleamed the snowy earth.
A weird, witching scene.
"Leave me," said the astrologer, "and watch and wait.

When the first little pink cloud of sunrise blushes in the sky, come to me.

My task will have ended." He waved him away with a regal motion.

He stood there gazing at the stars, as a king looking upon his subjects.