it, and sit down here beside me."

Somewhat dazed and greatly flabbergasted, Peter obeyed.

He locked the door, then sat down beside her. She moved closer, took
his hand, wrapped both of hers tightly around it, and leaned toward him
until the breath from her parted lips was upon his throat, moist and
warm, and her eyes were great shining balls of limpid mystery and
dancing excitement, so close to his that he momentarily expected their
eyelashes to mingle.

She caught her breath, and then, for such dramatic circumstances, made
a most ridiculous remark. She realized that herself, for she whipped
out:

"It is a foolish question. But, Mr. Moore, do you believe in love at
first sight?"

Peter's tense look dissolved into a smile of giddy relief. He was
expecting something quite frightful, and the clear wit of him found a
ready answer.

"Foolish?" he chuckled. "Why, I'm the most devout worshiper at the
shrine! The shrine brags about me! It says to unbelievers: Now, if
you don't believe in love at first sight, just cast your orbs upon
Peter Moore, our most shining example. Allah, by Allah! The old
philanderer is assuredly of the faith!"

"I am quite serious, Mr. Moore."

"As I was afraid, Miss Borria. Seriously, if you must know it, then
here goes: As soon as I saw you I was mad about you! Call it
infatuation, call it a rush of blood to my foolish young head, call it
anything you like----"

"Why don't you stop all this?" she broke him off.

"All what?" he inquired innocently.

"This--this life you are leading. This indolence. This constant
toying with danger. This empty life. This sham of adventure-love that
you affect. It will get you nothing. I know! I, too, thought it was
a great lark at first, and I played with fire; and you know just what
happens to the children who play with fire.

"At first you skirt the surface, and then you go a little deeper, and
finally you can do nothing but struggle. It is a terrible feeling, to
find that your wonderful toy is killing you. Certain people in China,
Mr. Moore, are conducting practises that you of the western world frown
upon. And blundering upon these practices, as perhaps you have, you
believe you are very bold and daring, and you are thrilled as you rub
elbows with death, in tracing the dragons to their dens."

"Dragons!" The syllables cracked from Peter's lips, and his wits,
which were wandering in channels of their own while this lecture
p