ust be careful."

"Careful! I'm sick of being careful."

"Hush!"

The butler entered with a tray and the brandy and soda.

"Open it, sir?"

"Yes. Two. Now try that. Best thing in the world for a bad head."

The old butler withdrew as softly as he had come in, and Katrine took
two or three sips from her glass, while Artis tossed his off, and then,
setting it down, walked quickly to the door.

Katrine's eyes dilated, and, bending forward, she listened, and then
sprang up and glided quickly across from the inner room to meet Artis
half-way, and be clasped in his arms.

"What have you done?" she cried.

"Nothing."

"You have fastened the door."

"Nonsense."

"I say you have!"

"Well, suppose I have. What then?"

"You madman! Unfasten the door."

"Not I."

"I tell you that you are mad," she cried, trying to free herself.
"Gerard, dear Gerard, be reasonable."

She writhed herself free and ran and turned the bolt back. He followed
to refasten it, but she held him.

"Think of the consequences of our being found locked in here."

"Bah! no one will come now till after eleven, and if they did I don't
care. Look here," he cried, clasping her to his breast again, "suppose
this Arabian Night sort of fortune were found, do you think I am blind?
You would marry this Capel."

"Well?"

"I won't have it," he cried.

"Why not?" she whispered, and her creamy arms clasped about his neck.
"We are so poor, Gerard, and we must have money to live."

"Yes, but at that cost," he cried, passionately.

"Well, what then? Think! Over a million, which you should share.
Gerard--dearest--you will not be so foolish, when I am so near this
gigantic prize. He is my complete slave. I can do with him just what I
will."

"But--Kate--I believe you would--"

He did not achieve his sentence, but responded passionately to her
caresses till he felt her suddenly grow rigid in his arms, and then one
arm was snatched from his neck, and, with her hand, she struck him
sharply across the face.

"How dare you!" she cried.

Gerard Artis let his hands fall to his side, and Katrine darted to a
tall figure in evening dress standing just inside the door, and flung
herself at his knees.

"Save me!" she half shrieked, "from the insults of this man."

Paul Capel drew himself aside, and Katrine fell prostrate on the thick
carpet, as he gravely opened the door.

The girl sprang to her feet and darted out of the room, while Cap