After being on the stretch throughout the violent feverish incidents of the day, his nerves relaxed under the balmy influences of the spring night.

Why should he, without any excuse of passion, out of mere caprice, from pure vanity and arrogance, have taken pleasure in awakening the hatred, and deeply wounding the heart of a fellow man?
The thought of the horrid pain that must be torturing his adversary filled him with a sort of compassion.

Elena's image flashed before him, and he called to mind the anguish he had endured the year before, what time he had lost her--his jealousy, his anger, his nameless torments.

Then, as now, the nights were serene and calm, and filled with perfume, and yet how they weighed upon his spirit! He inhaled the fragrant breath of the roses blooming in the little gardens about, and watched the flock of sheep passing through the Piazza below.
The mass of thick white fleece advanced with a continuous undulating motion, a compact and unbroken surface, like a muddy wave pouring over the pavement.

A sharp quavering bleat would mingle with the tinkling bells to be answered by other voices, fainter and more timid; from time to time, the mounted shepherds, riding at either side or behind the flock, gave a sharp word of command, or used their long staves.