This speech somewhat opened the eyes of Maurice to the kind of soul which was enshrined in the splendid body of this man; and he saw plainly that the sensual part of Caliphronas had completely conquered the spiritual. But with what result?—that this ignoble being was happy. What an ironical comment of Fate on the strivings of great beings to subordinate the senses to the soul. The soul agitated by a thousand fears, the brain striving ever after the impossible—what do these give their possessor, but a feeling of unrest, of unsatisfied hunger; whereas the body, untortured by an inquiring spirit, brought contentment, happiness—ignoble though they were—to the animal man.
By this time, Caliphronas, having made up his mind to sit no more that day, was slowly dressing himself, singing a Greek song in his usual gay manner.
“Three girls crossed my path in the twilight; One did I love, but the others were nothing to me: She frowned at my greeting, but her friends smiled sweetly, Yet was she the loveliest of them all, And I loved her frown more than their smiles inviting.”
“Thoroughly. I have not a care in the world. Come with me to the Island of Fantasy, and you also will be happy.”
“Who is Justinian? anything to do with the Pandects?”
“Pandects?” reiterated Caliphronas, puzzled by the word.
“Oh yes; he is the king of the Island of Fantasy.”
“Which, I presume, exists only in your brain,” said Roylands jestingly.
“Pardon me, no,” replied the Count seriously, resuming his seat. “The Island of Fantasy, or, to call it by its real name, Melnos, does exist in the Ægean Sea. It is a but little known island, and Justinian, who is my very good friend, rules over it as a kind of Homeric king. Ulysses was just such another; and there you will find the calm, patriarchal life of those antique times, which you of the modern world think has vanished forever. My friend, the Golden Age still exists in Melnos, and if you come with me, you will dwell in Arcady.”
“My dear Count,” said Maurice, much impressed by the fluency of the man’s speech, “I have never yet heard a foreigner speak our tongue with such ease as you do. Where did you learn such fluency—such a good accent?”
“Ah, I will tell you that when we arrive at Melnos.”