On an occasion when no personal excitement was stirring Captain Fitzgerald he probably would have hesitated about approving of Theodora spending the entire evening alone with Lord Bracondale. She was married, it was true--but to Josiah Brown--and Dominic Fitzgerald knew his world. To-night, however, neither the widow nor he had outside thoughts beyond themselves. Indeed, Mrs. McBride was so overflowing with joy she had almost a feeling of satisfaction in the knowledge that the others would possibly be happy too--when she thought of them at all! Again she decided the situation for every one, and again fate laughed. There was no use staying any longer at Versailles, because the park gates were shut and they could not stroll in the moonlight, but a drive back and a few turns in the Bois with a little supper at Madrid would be a fitting ending to the day. "You must meet us at Madrid at half-past ten," she said; "and Dominic"--the name came out as if from long habit--"telephone for a table in the bosquet--Numero 3--I like that garcon best, he knows my wants." And so they got into their separate automobiles. "Let us have all the windows down," said Theodora, "to get all the beautiful air--it is such a lovely night." Her heart was beating as it had never beat before. How could she control herself! How keep calm and ordinary during the enchanting drive! Her hands were cold as ice, while flaming roses burned in the white velvet cheeks. And Hector saw it all and understood, and passion surged madly in his veins. For a mile or two there was silence--only the moonlight and the swift rushing through the air, and the wild beating of their hearts. And so they came to the long, dark stretch of wood by St. Cloud. And the devil whispered sophistries and fate continued to laugh. Then passion was too strong for him. "Darling," he said, and his fine resolutions fled to the winds, while his deep voice was hoarse and broken. "My darling!--God! I love you so--beyond all words or sense--Oh, let us be happy for this one night--we must part afterwards I know, and I will accept that--but just for to-night there can be no sin and no harm in being a little happy--when we are going to pay for it with all the rest of our lives. Let us have the memory of one hour of bliss--the angels themselves could not grudge us that." One hour of bliss out of a lifetime! Would it be a terrible sin, Theodora wondered, a terrible, unforgivable sin to let him kiss her--to let him hold her just once in his arms. There was no light in the coupe--he had seen to that--only the great lamps flaring in the road and the moonlight. She clasped her hands in an agony of emotion. She was but a dove in the net of an experienced fowler, but she did not know or think of that, nor he either. They only knew they loved each other passionately, and this situation was more than they could bear.