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ms such as this。〃
〃Ah； so； it began for you then in Venice；〃 I said。 〃I have blundered。〃
〃Yes； here in Venice；〃 he said。 ''One of us saw you and wrote a letter to our Motherhouse in England； and I was dispatched to make certain of who and what you were。 Once I glimpsed you in your own house I knew it to be true。〃
I sat back and took his measure。 He had put on handsome velvet of a fawn color； and wore a cloak lined with miniver； and there were simple silver rings on his hands。 His pale ashen hair was long and bed plainly。 His eyes were as gray as his hair。 His forehead was high and bare of lines。 He seemed to be shining clean。
〃And what truth is this that you speak of？〃 I asked as gently as I could。 〃What is it that you know to be true of me？〃
〃You are a vampire； a blood drinker；〃 he said without flinching； his voice as polite as ever； his manner posed。 〃You've lived for centuries。 I can't know your age。 I don't presume to know。 I wish that you would tell me。 You have not blundered。 It is I who have e to greet you。〃
It was charming to be speaking in the old Latin。 And his eyes； reflecting the light of the lamps； were full of an honest excitement tempered only by his dignity。
〃I have e into your house when it was open；〃 he said。 〃I have accepted your hospitality。 Oh； what I would give to know how long you've lived； and what you have seen。〃
〃And what would you do with that intelligence？〃 I asked him； 〃If I did tell you such things？〃
〃mit it to our libraries。 Increase the knowledge。 Let it be known that what some say is legend is in fact truth。〃 He paused and then he said： 〃Magnificent truth。〃
〃Ah； but you have something to record even now； don't you？〃 I asked。 〃You can record that you have seen me here。〃
Quite deliberately I looked away from him and towards the dancers before us。 Then I looked back at him to see that he had followed； obediently； the direction of my gaze。
He watched Bianca as she made her circle in the carefully modulated dance； her hand clasped by that of Amadeo who smiled at her； the light glimmering on his cheek。 She seemed the girl again when the music played so very sweetly； and when Amadeo gazed on her with such approving eyes。
〃And what else do you see here？〃 I asked； 〃my fine scholar of the Talamasca？〃
〃Another；〃 he answered； his eyes returning to me without fear。 〃A beautiful boyish one； who was human when I first laid eyes on him； and now he dances with a young woman who may soon be transformed as well。〃
My heart beat furiously as I heard this。 My heart beat in my throat and in my ears。
But he laid no judgment down upon me。 On the contrary； he was without all judgment and for a moment I could do nothing but search his young mind to make certain this was true。
He shook his head gently。
〃Forgive me；〃 he said。 〃I have never been close to one such as you。〃 He was flushed suddenly。 〃I have never spoken to one such as you。 I pray I shall have time to mit to parchment what I've seen tonight； though I swear to you on my honor and on the honor of the Order that if you let me go from here alive I will write nothing until I reach England； and the words will never do you harm。〃
I shut the soft seductive music out of my hearing。 I thought only of his mind； and I searched it and found there nothing but what he had just said to me； and behind it； an Order of scholars as he had described it； a seeming wonder of men and women who wanted only to know； and not to destroy。
Indeed a dozen marvels presented themselves of shelter given to those who could genuinely read minds； and others who from the cards could somehow with uncanny accuracy predict fortunes； and some who might have been burnt as witches； and behind it libraries in which time…honored books of magic were stored。
It seemed quite impossible that in this Christian era； such a secular force could exist。
I reached down and picked up the gold coin with the engraved word； Talamasca。 I put it in one of my pockets； and then I took his hand。
He was fiercely afraid now。
〃Do you think I mean to kill you？〃 I asked gently。
〃No； I don't think you will do it；〃 he said。 〃But you see； I have studied you so long and with such love； I can't know。〃
〃Love； is it？〃 I asked。 〃How long has your Order known of creatures like us？〃 I asked。 I held his hand firmly。
His high clear forehead was suddenly creased by a small expressive frown。
〃Always； and I told you we are very old。〃
I thought on it for a long moment； holding on to his hand。 I searched his mind again； and found no lie in it。 I looked out at the young dancers moving decorously； and I let the music fill me once more as though this strange disturbance had never e about。
Then I released his hand slowly。
〃Go then；〃 I said； 〃leave Venice。 I give you a day and a night to do it。 For I would not have you here with me。〃
〃I understand；〃 he said gratefully。
〃You have watched me too long；〃 I said reprovingly。 But the reproof was really for myself。 〃I know that you have already written letters to your Motherhouse describing me。 I know because I would have done so if I were you。〃
〃Yes；〃 he said again； 〃I have studied you。 But I have done it only for those who would know more of the world and all its creatures。 We persecute no one。 And our secrets are well kept from those who would use them for harm。〃
〃Write what you will；〃 I said； 〃but go； and never suffer your members to e to this city again。〃
He was about to rise from the table when I asked him his name。 As so often happened with me； I had not been able to take it from his mind。
〃Raymond Gallant；〃 he responded softly。 〃Should you ever want to reach me…。〃
〃Never；〃 I said sharply under my breath。
He nodded； but then refusing to go with that admonition he stood his ground and said： 〃Write to the castle； the name of which is engraved on the other side of the coin。〃
I watched him leave the ballroom。 He wasn't a figure to attract attention； and indeed one could picture him working with quiet dedication in some library where everything was splattered with ink。
But he did have a marvelously appealing face。
I sat brooding at the table； only talking now and then to others when I had to； wondering on it； that this mortal had e so close to me。
Was I too careless now？ Too absolutely in love with Amadeo and Bianca to be paying attention to the simplest things that should have sounded an alarm？ Had the splendid paintings of Botticelli separated me too much from my immortality？
I didn't know； but in truth what Raymond Gallant had done could be explained fairly well。
I was in a room full of mortals and he was but one of them； and perhaps he had a way of disciplining his mind so that his thoughts did not go out before him。 And there was no menace to him in gesture or face。
Yes； it was all simple； and when I was home in my bedchamber I felt much more at ease about it； even enough to write several pages about it in my diary as Amadeo slept like a Fallen Angel on my red taffeta bed。
Should I fear this young man who knew where I dwelt？ I thought not。 I sensed no danger whatsoever。 I believed the things that he said。
Quite suddenly； a couple of hours before dawn a tragic thought crossed my mind。
I must see Raymond Gallant once more！ I must speak to him！ What a fool I had been。
I went out into the night； leaving the sleeping Amadeo behind。
And throughout Venice I searched for this English scholar sweeping this and that palazzo with the power of my mind。
At last I came upon him in modest lodgings very far from the huge palaces of the Grand Canal。 I came down the stairway from the roof； and tapped on his door。
〃Open to me； Raymond Gallant；〃 I said； 〃It's Marius； and I don't mean you any harm。〃
No answer。 But I knew that I had given him a terrible start。
〃Raymond Gallant； I can break the door but I have no right to do such a thing。 I beg you to answer。 Open your door to me。〃
Finally he did unfasten the door； and I came inside； finding it to be a little chamber with remarkably damp walls in which he had a mean writing table； a