She caught up her
riding-hat and turned to put it on before the Venice mirror.
Odo, stepping up behind her, looked over her shoulder to catch the
reflection of her blush. Their eyes met for a laughing instant; then he
drew back deadly pale, for in the depths of the dim mirror he had seen
another face.
The Duchess cried out and glanced behind her. "Who was it? Did you see
her?" she said trembling.
Odo mastered himself instantly.
"I saw nothing," he returned quietly. "What can your Highness mean?"
She covered her eyes with her hands. "A girl's face," she
shuddered--"there in the mirror--behind mine--a pale face with a black
travelling hood over it--"
He gathered up her gloves and riding-whip and threw open the door of the
pavilion.
"Your Highness is weary and the air here insalubrious. Shall we not
ride?" he said.
Maria Clementina heard him with a blank stare. Suddenly she roused
herself and made as though to pass out; but on the threshold she
snatched her whip from him and, turning, flung it full at the mirror.
Her aim was good and the chiselled handle of the whip shattered the
glass to fragments.
She caught up her long skirt and stepped into the open.
"I brook no rivals!" said she with a white-lipped smile. "And now,
cousin," she added gaily, "to horse!"
2.15.
Odo, as in duty bound, waited the next morning on the Duchess; but word
was brought that her Highness was indisposed, and could not receive him
till evening.
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