In her dream, Domenica stood upon a crumbling, jagged hill that guarded a valley fertile with curling vegetation. Upon gazing more intently, she perceived a tiny and beautifully compact temple of rose-colored marble that was almost obscured by the deltaic growth at the valley's center. Charmed by her discovery, she decided to enter the valley, and no sooner had she reached this decision, than she found herself transported, without transition of any kind, to the foot of the temple steps.

Now she realized that the temple had been entirely misrepresented by her distant position. From the hill, the building had seemed small and fragile, but from the valley she could see that it mastered its surroundings and was vigorously built; the angular sweep of the steps terminated in smooth masses of heavy columns that rose along the facade, concealing the entrance completely. She was about to mount the steps, when a man, wound in the long purple folds of a himation, appeared between two pillars and regarded her with mixed curiosity and indifference. His arms were bare except for a fantastic amulet in the form of a snake that bound his upper right arm in glittering, involved coils. In his right hand, he held an earthen vessel, which, despite the distance, she could see in intimate detail. The cup was an amphora, perfectly shaped, with a narrow neck and an expansive bowl that sloped voluptuously to a slender base, and carved in twining relief over its surface were rich, unplucked branches, heavily laden with blossoms and fruit. With a slight shrug the man turned away and vanished between the columns.

Domenica ran quickly up the steps just in time to see the man enter the temple; she followed as far as the threshold and looked inside.

The interior was entirely of marble, rubbed to a fine lustre, and in the centre of the temple, a youth or young god stood, immeasurably pale and aloof, on a high marble altar. The man in the purple robe was standing at the base of the altar in an attitude of devotion, Domenica watched; all her powers diminished to the faculties of sight and hearing.

Sensing her presence, the suppliant glanced up, and as he turned to face her, she could see that the vessel he held was filled with an opaque, crimsonblack wine. She immediately realized that the wine was a libation to be offered to the pale young man who stood motionless on his pedestal, apparently oblivious to his surroundings. The realization filled her with an inexplicable sense of blasphemy.

Unexpectedly, the man in purple began to laugh a quick, almost painful sound without humor. In an absolute spasm of emotion, he flung himself against the altar. As soon as his back was turned to Domenica, his laughter became nothing more than a meaningless, hysterical sound. Engulfed by a sudden feeling of shame, Domenica was about to close her eyes and reject the whole, incomprehensible profanity, when, with one final convulsion that seemed to contract every muscle in his body, the man in purple raised his right arm and spilled the wine over the altar.

The dark crimson liquid instantly stained the feet of the young man, who staggered slightly, suppressing a shudder. Domenica hid her face in horror, and when she finally dared to look again, the temple was empty. The man in purple had disappeared, and on the altar stood the marble effigy of a young god, its feet stained with a color like blood.

She ascended turbulently into consciousness, as a diver who has plunged too deeply struggles back into his own element. She sat up in bed and stared into the dim room, the sound of her heartbeat fluttering against the silence. As the tangible world gradually rebuilt itself about her, she crossed her legs beneath the counterpane, and with elbows on knees and head in hands, murmured, "It can in no way be right."

There was no longer any hesitation in her mind; all doubts had crystallized into lucid determination. The headache had dissolved as she slept, and so she rose without further deliberation. She had taken several steps before she stopped sharply.

Adrian was in the garden again. His voice and Tony's were clearly dis-

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