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Soht me I didn't even see who it was I tried to say Riccardo's naue was thick in my mouth

Sounds and colorsclarity I saw the embroidered baldaquin of the Master's bed, over my head Riccardo stood over me

r />He spoke to me rapidly and somewhat desperately, but I couldn't n tongue, a pretty one, very melodious and sweet, but I couldn't understand a word of it

"I', I'm so hot that I can't bear it I have to have water Put me in the Master's bath "

He didn't seem to have heardI felt his hand on ed him not to touch me, but this he didn't hear, and neither did I! I wasn't even speaking I wanted to speak, but et the poison, I wanted to cry I could not

I closedsea, the waters off the island of the Lido, crenelated and beautiful beneath the noonday sun I floated on this sea, perhaps in a small bark, or maybe just on my back I couldn't feel the water itself, but there see waves that were big and slow and easy and carried leaht it was Torcello, or even Venice, and that I had been turned around so towards the land Then I saasreflective towers, as if it had been lass Oh, it was so lovely

"A there?" I asked

The waves see wetness, but ht I opened my eyes I saw the red of the taffeta baldaquin above I saw the golden fringe sewn on the velvet bed curtains, and then I saw Bianca Solderini there above me She had a cloth in her hand

"There wasn't enough poison on those blades to kill you," she said "It's merely made you sick Now, listen to me, Amadeo, you ht this sickness and to get well You , and be confident of it, that's it, you must breathe deeply and slowly, yes, exactly, and yousweated out of you, and you must not believe in this poison, and you must not fear "

"The Master will know," said Riccardo He looked drawn and miserable, and his lips quivered His eyes were flooded with his tears Oh, on, certainly "The Master will know sos The Master will break his journey and come home "

"Wash his face," said Bianca calmly "Wash his face and be quiet " How brave she was

I ue but I couldn't form words I wanted to say that they ht the Master coht appear

I turnedme

"Softly, quietly," said Bianca "Take in the air, yes, and do not be afraid "

A long ti just below perfect consciousness, and thankful that their voices were not sharp, and their touch was not so terrible, but the sweating ful, and I despaired utterly of being cool