Angels and Women (1924)

GREATER CHANGE 171
tiful queen, who, as the ships paused on fluttering
sails before the throne, gracefully
dropped at the feet of the newly crowned
empress tokens of admiration and loyalty.
As the fleet slowly sailed away and disappeared
in the overhanging mist, a strain of
angelic music from the Devas proclaimed the
triumph of rebellion and sensuality. 0 sin
and shame, the dreadful guilt lauded by
angel tongues l
The pageant was ended, the feast was to
begin° The sun, which, through its canopy
of mist, had all day long looked calmly down
upon this scene of splendor, now sank in the
west° Above the descending orb rolled upward
billowy clouds of crimson hue; the
ruddy glow stained tower and pavilion, marble
colonnade and house-top. And thus,
when Satanas and his bride passed up the
luminous pathway into the banquet-hall, Samoula
appeared immersed in a crimson tide.
"Too red, too red!" abruptly exclaimed Aldeth.
"My mistress seems bathed in blood!"