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〃Oh； run off with a nun to paint the Virgin！〃 I cried out under my breath。
〃Don't cry； Vittorio；〃 she said。
〃Don't speak to me as if I were your little brother！〃 I said to her； and then was full of shame。 She was stricken by my words； as if I'd slapped her。 I took her fingers and kissed them。 〃I'm sorry； Ursula； I am sorry。〃 I pulled her along beside me。
〃But where are we going？〃
〃To the house of Fra Filippo； to his workshop。 Don't question me now。〃
Within moments we had found our way； echoing and clattering down the narrow street； and we stood before the doors that were shut up and I could see no light； save in the third…story windows； as though he had had to flee to that height with his bride。 No mob was gathered here。
But out of the darkness there came suddenly a handful of filth heaved at the bolted doors； and then another and then a volley of stones。 I stepped back； shielding Ursula； and watched as one passerby after another slunk forward and hurled his insults at the shop。 Finally； I lay against the wall opposite； staring dully in the darkness； and I heard the deep…throated bell of the church ring the hour of eleven； which meant surely that all men must vacate the streets。
Ursula only waited on me and said nothing； and she noted it quietly when I looked up and saw the last of Fra Filippo's lights go out。
〃It's my doing；〃 I said。 〃I took his angels from him； and he fell into this folly； and for what did I do it； for what； that I might possess you as surely now as he possesses his nun？〃
〃I don't know your meaning； Vittorio；〃 she said。 〃What are nuns and priests to me？ I have never said a word to wound you； never； but I say such words now。 Don't stand here weeping over these mortals you loved。 We are wedded now； and no convent vow or priestly anointment divides us。 Let's go away from here； and when by light of lamps you want to show me the wonders of this painter； then bring me； bring me to see the angels of which you spoke rendered in pigment and oil。〃
I was chastened by her firmness。 I kissed her hand again。 I told her I was sorry。 I held her to my heart。
How long I might have stood with her there； I don't know。 Moments passed。 I heard the sound of running water and distant footsteps； but nothing of consequence； nothing which mattered in the thick night of crowded Florence； with its four… and five…story palaces； with its old half…broken towers； and its churches； and its thousands upon thousands of sleeping souls。 A light startled me。 It fell down upon me in bright yellow seams。 I saw the first； a thin line of brilliance。 It cut across her figure； and then there came another； illuminating the alley…like street beyond us； and I realized that the lamps had been lighted within Fra Filippo's shop。
I turned just as the bolts inside were made to slide back with a low； grating noise。 The noise echoed up the dark walls。 No light shone above； behind the barred windows。
Suddenly the doors were opened and slapped back softly； soundlessly almost； against the wall； and I saw the deep rectangle of the interior； a wide shallow room filled with brilliant canvases all blazing above candles enough to light a Bishop's Mass。
My breath left me。 I clutched her tightly； my hand on the back of her head as I pointed。
〃There they are； both of them； the Annunciations！〃 I whispered。 〃Do you see the angels； the angels who kneel； there； and there； the angels who kneel before the Virgins！''
〃I see them；〃 she said reverently。 〃Ah； they are more lovely even than I supposed。〃 She shook my arm。 〃Don't cry； Vittorio； unless it's for beauty's sake； only for that。〃
〃Is that a mand； Ursula？〃 I asked。 My eyes were so clouded I could scarce see the poised flat kneeling figures of Ramiel and Setheus。
But as I tried to clear my vision； as I tried to gather my wits and swallow the ache in my throat； the miracle I feared more than anything in this world； yet craved； yet hungered for … that miracle menced。 Out of the very fabric of the canvas； they appeared simultaneously； my silk…clad blond…haired angels； my haloed angels； to unravel from the tight weave itself。 They turned； gazing at me first and then moving so that they were no longer flat profiles but full robust figures； and then they stepped out and onto the stones of the shop。
I knew by Ursula's gasp that she had seen the same vivid series of miraculous gestures。 Her hand went to her lips。
Their faces bore no wrath； no sadness。 They merely looked at me； and in their sweet soft looks was all the condemnation I have ever understood。
〃Punish me；〃 I whispered。 〃Punish me by taking away my eyes that I can never see your beauty again。〃
Very slowly； Ramiel shook his head to answer no。 And Setheus followed with the same negation。 They stood side by side in their bare feet； as always； their abundant garments too light for movement on the heavy air； as they merely continued to gaze。
〃What then？〃 I said。 〃What do I deserve from you？ How is it that I can see you and see your glory even still？〃 I was a wreck of childish tears again； no matter how Ursula stared at me； no matter how she tried with her silent reproach to make the man of me。 I couldn't stop myself。 〃What then？ How can I see you still？〃
〃You'll always see us；〃 Ramiel said softly； tonelessly。
〃Every time you ever look at one of his paintings； you will see us；〃 said Setheus； 〃or you will see our like。〃
There was no judgment in it。 There was merely the same lovely serenity and kindness that they had always bestowed on me。
But it was not finished。 I saw behind them； taking dark shape； my own guardians； that solemn ivory pair； draped in their robes of shadowy blue。
How hard were their eyes； how knowing； how disdainful yet without the edge which men lend to such passions。 How glacial and remote。
My lips parted。 A cry was there。 A terrible cry。 But I dared not rouse the night around me； the infinite night that moved out over the thousands of slanted red…tile rooftops； out over the hills and the country； out under the numberless stars。
Suddenly the entire building began to move。 It trembled； and the canvases； brilliant and shimmering in their bath of burning light； were glittering as if shaken by a tremor of the very earth itself。
Mastema appeared suddenly before me； and the room was swept backward； broadened； deepened； and all those lesser angels were swept back from him as if by a soundless wind that cannot be defied。
The flood of light ignited his immense gold wings as they spread out； crowding the very corners of the vastness and pushing it even to greater breadth； and the red of his helmet glared as if it were molten； and out of his sheath； he drew his sword。
I backed up。 I forced Ursula behind me。 I pushed her back against the damp cold wall and imprisoned her there； behind me； as safe as I could make her on the face of the earth； with my arms stretched back to hold her so that she could not； must not； be taken away。
〃Ah；〃 said Mastema； nodding； smiling。 The sword was uplifted。 〃So even now you would go into Hell rather than see her die！〃
〃I would！〃 I cried。 〃I have no choice。〃
〃Oh； yes； you have a choice。〃
〃No； not her； don't kill her。 Kill me； and send me