He says the place is beautiful beyond words when it is in flower: whole tracts and tracts of grey lilac blossom in the shallows, and hordes of wild birds.

He asked me to tell you that you were to think of him as living in fairyland." Fay winced as if struck.
"You gave him my message ?" she stammered.
"Of course I did.

And he said I was to tell you not to grieve for him, for he was well and happy." "Happy!" echoed Fay.
"Yes, happy.

He said he had committed a great sin, but that he hoped and believed that he was now expiating it, and that it would be forgiven." "I am absolutely certain," said Fay in a suffocated voice, "that Michael did not murder the Marchese di Maltagliala." "That is impossible," said Wentworth.
"Then what great sin can he be expiating ?" Even as Fay asked the question she knew the answer.

Michael believed he was expiating the sin of loving another man's wife.