. She closed her eyes, for the glare of
light and moving figures dazzled her, and gave herself up to the rapture
of that one splendid dance. Her heart was beating wildly, as though it
would choke her. A curious thirst that yet was part of her delight made
her throat burn. A weakness that exulted in the man's supporting strength
held her bound and entranced by such an ecstasy as she had never known
before. She laughed, a gurgling laugh through panting lips. She wondered
whether he realized that she was floating through the air, held up by his
arm alone above the glitter and the turmoil all around them. She wondered
too how soon they would find their way to the heart of that golden maze,
and what nameless treasure awaited them there. For that treasure was for
them, and them alone, she never doubted. It was the gift of the gods,
bestowed upon no others in all that merry crowd.

The magic deepened and grew within her. She felt that the climax was
drawing near. He would not dance to a finish, she knew, and already the
music was quickening. She was too giddy, too spent had she but known it,
to open her eyes. Only by instinct did she know that he was bearing her,
sure and swift as a swallow, to the curtained recess whither he had led
her twice before. This, she told herself, this was the heart of the maze.
All things began and ended here. Her lips quivered and tingled. She would
never escape him now. He had her firmly in the net. Nor did she seriously
want to escape. Only she felt desperately afraid of him. His strength,
his determination, above all, his silence, sent tumultuous fear throbbing
through her heart. And when at length the pause came, when she knew that
they were alone in the gloom with the music dying away behind them, a
last wild dread that was almost anguish made her hide her face deep, deep
in his arm while her body hung powerless in his embrace.

He laughed a little--a laugh that thrilled her with its exultation, its
passion. And then, whether she would or not, he turned her face upwards
to meet his own.

His kisses descended upon her hotly, suffocatingly. He held her pressed
to him in such a grip as seemed to drive all the breath out of her
quivering frame. His lips were like a fierce flame on face and neck--a
flame that grew in intensity, possessing her, consuming her. The mastery
of his hold was utterly irresistible.

She gasped and gasped for breath as one suddenly plunged in deep waters.
His violence a