The cry of Brangwaine, who had seen, too late,
Andred ascending stealthily alone,
Like death, and with death shining in his hand,
And in his eyes. They did not hear the steps
Of Mark, who followed, or of Gouvernail,
Who followed Mark.
Andred ascending stealthily alone,
Like death, and with death shining in his hand,
And in his eyes. They did not hear the steps
Of Mark, who followed, or of Gouvernail,
Who followed Mark.
They were all silent there
While Mark, nearer the couch and watching it,
And all that there was on it, and half on it,
Was unaware of Andred at his knees,
Until he seized them and stared up at him
With unclean gleaming eyes. “Tell me, my lord
And master,” he crooned, with fawning confidence,
“Tell me—and say if I have not done well!
See him—and say if I’m a lizard now!
See him, my master! Have I not done well?”
While Mark, nearer the couch and watching it,
And all that there was on it, and half on it,
Was unaware of Andred at his knees,
Until he seized them and stared up at him
With unclean gleaming eyes. “Tell me, my lord
And master,” he crooned, with fawning confidence,
“Tell me—and say if I have not done well!
See him—and say if I’m a lizard now!
See him, my master! Have I not done well?”
Mark, for a time withheld in angry wonder
At what he saw, and with accusing sorrow
For what he felt, said nothing and did nothing,
Till at the sight of Andred’s upturned face
He reached and seized him, saying no word at all,
At what he saw, and with accusing sorrow
For what he felt, said nothing and did nothing,
Till at the sight of Andred’s upturned face
He reached and seized him, saying no word at all,
[ 195 ]
