A month later Paolo della Rocca led his wife through what had once been
his mother’s chambers at Palestrina, and which were now prepared for
her with all their wide windows unclosed and looking out to the golden
afternoon glories of the bright southwest.
In the little oratory which opened out of the bed-chamber, there was hung
an altar-picture; it was the picture of San Cipriano il Mago.
“Take it as my marriage gift,” he murmured to her. “You threw away your
magic wand and renounced the world for me,—oh, my love, my love; God
grant you the saint’s reward!”
She laid her hands upon his heart and leaned her cheek upon them.
“My reward is here.”
“And you will never repent?”
“Did Cyprian repent when he broke his earthly bonds and gained eternal
life? Once I was blind; but now I see. The world is nothing; Love is
enough.”