Before Craig Vandervelt sat down he looked at Aloya, thinking how lovely she was and how, with her hair falling over her shoulders, she looked very young, little more than a girl.

"I love you," he said. "I was aware of it just now when I saw what was happening in the Casino."

Aloya made an inarticulate little sound and her eyes filled with tears. Slowly Craig bent his head and very gently his lips found hers. Only when he felt that they were one with the stars and the moon, and at the same time enveloped by a glory that was not of this world, did he raise his head and she said in a whisper:

" I love... you... and I ought not bring you into this ... ghastly situation which is... very dangerous... but there is no one... else I can turn to."

"You must tell me about it," Craig said, "but first I must kiss you again...."