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t I could feel as if every pore of him gave forth warm breath。
〃Master；〃 I cried； swallowing my sobs。 〃Are you happy with what you've taught me or not？ Are you happy with what I've learnt or not！ Don't you play with me over this！ I'm not your puppet； Sir； no； never that！ What would you have me be； then？ Why this anger？〃 I shuddered all over； the tears veritably flooding from my eyes。 〃I would be strong for you； but I。。。 I knew him。〃
〃Why？ Because he kissed you？〃 He leant down and picked up my hair in his left hand。 He yanked me towards him。
〃Marius； for the love of God！〃
He kissed me。 He kissed me as Martino had； and his mouth was as human and as hot。 He slipped his tongue into mine； and I felt not blood but manly passion。 His finger burnt against my cheek。
I broke away。 He let me break away。 〃Oh； e back to me； my cold white one； my god；〃 I whispered。 I lay my face on his chest。 I could hear his heart。 I could hear it beating。 I had never before heard it； never heard a pulse within the stone chapel of his body。 〃e back to me； most dispassionate teacher。 I don't know what you want。〃
〃Oh； my darling；〃 he sighed。 〃Oh； my love。〃 And there came the old demon shower of his kisses； not the mock of a passionate man； but his affection； petal soft； so many tributes laid upon my face and hair。 〃Oh； my beautiful Amadeo； oh； my child；〃 he said。
〃Love me； love me； love me；〃 I whispered。 〃Love me and take me into it with you。 I am yours。〃
In stillness； he held me。 I drowsed on his shoulders。
A little breeze came； but it did not move the heavy tapestries in which the French lords and ladies drifted in their eternal and leafy green forest among hounds that would forever bay and birds that would always sing。
Finally； he released me and he stepped back。
He walked away from me； his shoulders hunched； his head down。
Then with a lazy gesture he beckoned for me to e； and yet he moved out of the room too fast。
I ran after him； down the stone stairs to the street。 The doors were open when I got there。 The cold wind washed away my tears。 It washed away the evil heat of the room。 I ran and ran along the stone quays； over the bridges； and after him towards the square。
I didn't catch him until I reached the Molo； and there he was walking； a tall man in a red hood and cape； past San Marco and towards the harbor。 I ran after him。 The wind from the sea was icy and very strong。 It blasted me； and I felt doubly cleansed。
〃Don't leave me； Master；〃 I called out。 My words were swallowed up； but he heard。
He came to a stop； as if it really were my doing。 He turned and waited for me to catch up with him； and then he picked up my outstretched hand。
〃Master； hear my lesson；〃 I said。 〃Judge my work。〃 I caught my breath in haste and went on。 〃I saw you drink from those who were evil； convicted in your heart of some gross crime。 I saw you feast as it is your nature； I saw you take the blood with which you must live。 And all about you lies this evil world； this wilderness of men no better than beasts who will yield up a blood as sweet and rich for you as innocent blood。 I see it。 That's what you meant for me to see； and it's done。〃
His face was impassive。 He merely studied me。 It seemed the burning fever in him was already dying away。 The distant torches along the arcades shone on his face； and it was whitening and as ever hard。 The ships creaked in the harbor。 There came distant murmurs and cries from those； perhaps； who cannot or never sleep。
I glanced up at the sky； fearful I would see the fatal light。 He'd be gone。
〃If I drink such as that； Master； the blood of the wicked and those whom I overpower； will I bee like you？〃
He shook his head。 〃Many a man has drunk another's blood； Amadeo；〃 he said in a low but calm voice。 His reason had e back to him； his manners； his seeming soul。 〃Would you be with me； and be my pupil and my love？〃
〃Yes； Master； always and forever； or for so long as nature gives to you and me。〃
〃Oh； it isn't fanciful the words I spoke。 We are immortal。 And only one enemy can destroy us…it's the fire that burns in that torch there； or in the rising sun。 Sweet to think on it； that when we are at last weary of all this world there is the rising sun。〃
〃I am yours； Master。〃 I hugged him close and tried to vanquish him with kisses。 He endured them； and even smiled； but he didn't move。
But when I broke off； and made a fist of my right hand as if to hit him； which I could never have done； to my amazement he began to yield。
He turned and took me in his powerful and ever careful embrace。
〃Amadeo； I can't go on without you；〃 he said。 His voice was desperate and small。 〃I meant to show you evil； not sport。 I meant to show you the wicked price of my immortality。 And that I did。 But in so doing； I saw it myself； and my eyes are dazzled and I am hurt and tired。〃
He laid his head against my head； and he held tight to me。
〃Do what you will to me； Sir；〃 I said。 〃Make me suffer and long for it； if that's what you want。 I am your fool。 I am yours。〃
He released me and kissed me formally。
〃Four nights； my child；〃 he said。 He moved away。 He kissed his fingers and planted that last kiss on my lips； and then he was gone。 〃I go now to an ancient duty。 Four nights。 Till then。〃
I stood alone in the earliest chill of the morning。 I stood alone beneath a paling sky。 I knew better than to look for him。
In the greatest dejection； I walked back through the alleys； cutting across little bridges to wander into the depth of the waking city； for what I didn't know。
I was half…surprised when I realized I had returned to the house of the murdered men。 I was surprised when I saw their doorway still open； as if a servant would at any moment appear。
No one appeared。
Slowly the sky above ripened to a pale white and then to a faint blue。 Mist crawled along the top of the canal。 I went over the small bridge to the doorway； and again went up the stairs。
A powdery light came in from the loosely slatted windows。 I found the banquet room where the candles still burnt。 The smell of tobacco and wax and of pungent food was close and hanging in the air。
I walked inside； and I inspected the dead men； who lay as we had left them； disheveled； and now slightly yellowed and waxen and a prey to the gnats and the flies。
There was no sound but the humming of the flies。
The spilt wine had dried on the table in pools。 The corpses were clean of all the rampant marks of death。
I was sick again； sick to trembling； and I took a deep breath that I shouldn't retch。 Then I realized why I had e。
Men in those days wore short cloaks on their jackets； sometimes affixed； as you probably know。 I needed one of these； and took it； ripping it loose from the humpback man； who lay almost on his face。 It was a flaring coat of canary yellow with white fox for its border and a lining of heavy silk。 I tied knots in it and made a thick deep sack of it； and then I went up and down the table； gathering up the goblets； dashing out the contents first； and