“Yes, for the gold we must play the fox.  Well, brother, now that you talk so, wait until the moon is up, then hide in the woods round the cottage dell with your violin to your chin.  I lure the rabbit from its hole, and then you play the dance that delights the Gorgios.  But what I do, with kisses or arm-loving, my brother,” she added shaking her finger, “is but the play of the wind to shake the leaves.  Believe me honest and my rom you shall be—­some day!” and she went away laughing, to eat and drink, for the long watching had tired her.  As for Kara he crawled again into the underwood to search for his knife.  Apparently he did not trust Chaldea as much as she wanted him to.

Thus it came about that when the moon rolled through a starry sky like a golden wheel, Lambert, sighing at his studio window, saw a slim and graceful figure glide into the clear space of lawn beyond the monoliths.  So searching was the thin moonlight that he recognized Chaldea at once, as she wandered here and there restless as a butterfly, and apparently as aimless.  But, had he known it, she had her eyes on the cottage all the time, and had he failed to come forth she would have come to inquire if he was at home.  But the artist did come forth, thinking to wile away an hour with the fascinating gypsy girl.  Always dressing for dinner, even in solitude, for the habit of years was too strong to lay aside—­and, moreover, he was fastidious in his dress to preserve his self-respect—­he appeared at the door looking slender and well-set up in his dark clothes.  Although it was August the night was warm, and Lambert did not trouble to put on cap or overcoat.  With his hands in his pockets and a cigar between his lips he strolled over to the girl, where she swayed and swung in the fairy light.

“Hullo, Chaldea,” he said leisurely, and leaning against one of the moss-grown monoliths, “what are you doing here?”

“The rye,” exclaimed Chaldea, with a well-feigned start of surprise.  “Avali the rye.  Sarishan, my Gorgious gentleman, you, too, are a nightbird.  Have you come out mousing like an owl?  Ha! ha! and you hear the nightingale singing, speaking in the Gentile manner,” and clapping her hands she lifted up a full rich voice.

“Dyal o pani repedishis,
M’ro pirano hegedishis.”

“What does that mean, Chaldea?”

“It is an Hungarian song, and means that while the stream flows I hear the violin of my love.  Kara taught me the ditty.”

“And Kara is your love?”

“No.  Oh, no; oh, no,” sang Chaldea, whirling round and round in quite a magical manner.  “No rom have I, but a mateless bird I wander.  Still I hear the violin of my true love, my new love, who knows my droms, and that means my habits, rye,” she ended, suddenly speaking in a natural manner.

“I don’t hear the violin, however,” said Lambert lazily, and thinking what a picturesque girl she was in her many-hued rag-tag garments, and with the golden coins glittering in her black hair.