d continue to live with him, but, on the occasion of this journey
down from Newport, he had broken his promise and entered her stateroom.

"It was an oppressive night, like this," she said, "and I had left the
deck door ajar, held on a hook. I was trying to sleep, when suddenly I
saw a man's arm pushed in through the opening. I shall never forget my
fright, as I saw that black sleeve. Do you understand what I mean?
Look!"

Gathering her draperies about her, Penelope sprang lightly out of bed
and moved swiftly to the bedroom door, while Christopher, startled,
followed the beauty of her sinuous form.

"His arm came through--like this," she stepped outside the bedroom, and,
reaching around the edge of the door showed her exquisite bare arm
within. "See? Then my husband entered slowly and--as soon as I saw his
eyes," her agitation was increasing, "I knew what to expect. His face
was flushed. He had been drinking. He looked at me and--then he locked
the door--like this. I crouched away from him, I was frozen with terror,
but--but--" she twined her hands in distress. "Oh, you'll hate me! I
know you'll hate me!"

"No!"

"I tried so hard to resist him. I pleaded, I wept. I begged on my
knees--like this."

"Please--please don't," murmured Christopher, as he felt the softness of
her supplicating body.

"But Julian was pitiless. He caught me in his arms. I fought against
him. I struck him as I felt his loathsome kisses. I said I would scream
for help and--he laughed at me. Then--"

She stopped abruptly, leaving her confession unfinished, and, standing
close to her lover, held him fascinated by the wild appeal of her eyes
and the heaving of her bosom.

Suddenly Christopher's heart froze with terror. The dreaded change had
come. This glorious young creature whose glances thrilled him, whose
flaunted beauty maddened him, was not Penelope any more, but _the
other_, Fauvette, the temptress, the wanton.

"Chris!" she stepped before him splendid in the intensity of her
emotion. Her garment was disarranged, her beautiful hair spread over her
white shoulders. She came close to him--closer--and clung to him.

"Why--why did you lock that door?" he asked unsteadily.

"I did not notice," she answered in pretended innocence, and he knew
that she was lying. "Do you mind, dear? Do you mind being alone with
me?" Then, before he could answer, she offered her lips. "My love! My
husband! Kiss me!"

It was too much. He clasped her in