Instantly the dancer stopped as if petrified, his arms outstretched as in invitation, his regal head thrown back, showing the long smooth white column of his throat, his clear, half-closed, sapphire-blue eyes agleam with subtle challenge... .

The uncanny music died in a single sighing, sobbing whisper, poison-sweet . . . the clutching, icy fingers were gone from my wrist ... my first coherent thought was: Had that spell been directed at me, the old adage anent 'old fools'would have been swiftly justified!

And I knew that to all intents and purposes, Michaela Commnenus was sunk!

Just the same, I was furious. Heldar had gone too far, and I told his so, flatly. I pointed out in terms unmistakable that what he planned was murder, or worse; and that this was modern America wherein witchcraft had neither place nor sanction, and that I'd be no accessory to any such devilishness as he was contriving. Oh, I made myself and my meaning plain.

And he stood and looked at me with a most injured expression. He made me feel as if I'd wantonly struck a child across the face in the midst of its innocent diversions!

'I don't actually care if the devil flies off with Michaela Commnenus,' I concluded wrathfully, 'but I won't have her murdered by you while you're living here, posing as my niece! No doubt it's quite possible for you to evade any legal consequences by disappearing, but what of me? As accessory, I'd be liable to life imprisonment, at the least!'

His face lightened as by magic, and his voice was genuinely regretful, and in his eyes was a light of sincere love. He came to me and wrapped his white arms about my neck, murmuring terms of affectionate consolation.

'Poor dear Aunt Joan! Heldar was thoughtless—wicked me! And I might have involved you in serious trouble? I am ashamed! But the fate laid upon me by the Norns is heavy, and I may not evade it, even for you, whom I love. Tell me,' he demanded suddenly, 'if I should destroy the vile earthworm without any suspicion attaching to you, or to me, would you love me as before, even knowing what I had done?'