"I will explain that later. If I may offer a word of advice to the young lady, I am sure I might save both of you from----" Pierre faltered. So much to explain, so much that was unexplainable! How could he hope that these two young people would believe him? "You were about to say----?" Ruth looked interested. "You have made a foolish bargain with someone. The price you will pay is too high. But it grows late, and I am sure there is little I can say to you just now. Perhaps I have said too much already. Until we meet again, I bid you good evening!" Pierre removed his hat, and bowed in a low sweeping movement. * * * * * Ruth could not restrain her gasp of horror as she saw the man's head. It was scarred and smelled strongly of burning hair. He had forgotten that he should not remove his hat. Mumbling an embarrassed apology, Pierre hurried into the darkness beyond the gate. "Carl, did you see his hair? The man looked as if he had been horribly burned!" Ruth cried when he was gone. "The most awful-looking man I have ever seen. All your fault too; you would insist on walking in the night air. Why did we have to walk all the way around the garden? The Countess' parties always do this to you, Ruth. They give you the craziest ideas." "Then you do remember what she prophesied tonight!" Ruth exclaimed. "Really, isn't it uncanny? Tonight the Countess told me that I would take a new step in my life; something would happen that would change everything for me. She said it would begin with a horrible fright. And I was frightened, Carl. Do you suppose----" "Suppose nothing!" Carl replied with some exasperation. "The Countess and her fake prophecies are without weight to me. You women are always falling for the ways of some old crone with a crystal or a deck of cards in her hand. Besides, she may have planted that old man in our path tonight just to make her claims more convincing. How do we know but that all of that horrible appearance was not just so much clever make-up?" "I know it wasn't." "How do you know?" "I just do, Carl." She smiled at him. "I believe everything the Countess has told me. But, come, dearest, we must be returning to the party." She took his hand, and turned back to the garden. Carl followed reluctantly. "Ruth, I wish you would give up your devotion to the Countess and her mad religion, or whatever it is. I don't like it. You've changed since you have taken her so seriously. First thing I know you'll be a convert to her--oh, what do you call it--moon worship?" She stopped and turned to him; her voice was strange and final in its tone. "Carl, I am already a convert. The religion of Moonere has given me everything I want in life. Soon I will take the sacred vows of its followers."