Refrain
Oh, the world is fair at the dawning -- dawning -- dawning,
But the red sun sinks in blood -- the red sun sinks in blood.
I only wish that I could write down the music too.
'Now, Curtis, now,' I whispered, when she began the second verse,
and turned my back.
'Nyleptha,' he said -- for my nerves were so much on the stretch
that I could hear every word, low as it was spoken, even through
Sorais' divine notes -- 'Nyleptha, I must speak with thee this
night, upon my life I must. Say me not nay; oh, say me not nay!'
'How can I speak with thee?' she answered, looking fixedly before
her; 'Queens are not like other people. I am surrounded and watched.'
'Listen, Nyleptha, thus. I will be before the statue of Rademas
in the great hall at midnight. I have the countersign and can
pass in. Macumazahn will be there to keep guard, and with him
the Zulu. Oh come, my Queen, deny me not.'
'It is not seemly,' she murmured, 'and tomorrow --'
Just then the music began to die in the last wail of the refrain,
and Sorais slowly turned her round.
'I will be there,' said Nyleptha, hurriedly; 'on thy life see
that thou fail me not.'
CHAPTER XVI
BEFORE THE STATUE
It was night -- dead night -- and the silence lay on the
Frowning City like a cloud.
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