I was not interested in Margot’s childish games. It was obvious that she was not in the solarium. There was now her that I could see for her to hide.

I heard Maria’s voice on the landing and I stepped briski across the room. I had discovered another door in the solarium and I opened it and went through. A spiral staircase faced me On impulse I descended it. It wound round and round an seemed to go on for a long way before it came to an end. was in another part of the house. Here the corridor was wide There were heavy velvet curtains at the windows. I looked through one of them. I could see the lawn with the sun-dia and I knew that I was in the front of the house.

There were several doors along the corridor. Very cautiously I opened one. The blinds were drawn to shut out the sun an it took a few seconds for my eyes to become accustomed to th dimness. Then I saw the sleeping figure on the chaise-longue. I was the Comtesse, Margot’s mother. I quickly but very quietly shut the door. Suppose she had been awake and seen me! should have been in disgrace. My mother would have been hurt and bewildered and I should never have been invited ti Derringham Manor again. Perhaps I never should in any case as this was the first time I had been asked.

It was the on time most likely. Then I must make the most of it.

My mother often said that when I wanted to do something which was of questionable behaviour, I would make excuse why it was right to do it. What excuse could I make for wandering about the house . prying . for it was nothing more? Joel Derringham had been pleased that I liked the house. I was sure he would not mind. Nor would Sir John And it might be my only chance.

I went along the corridor. Then to my joy I discovered that one door was slightly ajar. I pushed it further and peeped into the room. It was very like that in which the Comtesse lay or her chaise-longue except that there was a four-poster bed ir it hung with rich curtains.

I noticed the beautiful tapestries which adorned the walls.

I could not resist it. I tiptoed in.

Then my heart leaped in terror, for I heard the door shut behind me. I had never felt so frightened in all my life, Someone had shut the door. My position was unbearable embarrassing. In such situations I was quick at finding excuses and could generally rely on being able to extricate myself from awkward places, but in that moment I was really frightened. We had talked of the supernatural and I felt as though I could be in the presence of it.

Then a voice behind me said in accented English: “Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

I turned sharply. The Devil Count was standing against the door, his arms folded; his eyes-very dark, almost black-were boring into me;

his mouth curved in a smile which matched the rest of him and which I could only call diabolical.

I stammered: “I’m sorry. I appear to have intruded.”

You seek someone? ” he asked.

“It is not my wife, I know, for you rejected her after you had looked into her room. Perhaps you search for me?”

I realized then that the two rooms were connected and he had been in that one into which I had peeped on the sleeping Comtesse. He had no doubt hastily come into this room and opened the door to lure me in in order to trap me when I had entered.

“No, no,” I said.

“It is a game. Margot is hiding.”

He nodded.

“Perhaps you should sit down.”

“No, thanks. I should not have come down here. I should have stayed upstairs.”

I walked boldly to the door but he did not move away from it and I stopped short looking at him helplessly and yet fascinated, wondering what he was going to do. What he did do was step forward and take my arm.

“You must not go away so soon,” he said.

“Now that you have visited me, you must stay awhile.”

He was studying me closely and his scrutiny embarrassed me.

“I think I should go,” I said as easily as I could.

“They will be missing me.”

“But it is Margot who is hiding. They will not find her yet. It is a big house for her to hide herself in.”

“Oh, but they will. It is only the top floor …” I stopped foolishly. I had betrayed myself.

He laughed triumphantly.

“Then what are you doing down here.

Mademoiselle? “

“It is my first visit to the house. I lost my way.”

“And you were looking in these rooms to find it?”

I was silent. He drew me to the window and pulled me down beside him.

I was close to him, deeply aware of the linen that smelt faintly of sandalwood and the large signet ring with the crest which he wore on the little finger of his right hand.

“You should tell me your name,” he said.

“I am Minella Maddox.”

“Minella Maddox,” he repeated. I know well. You are the schoolmistress’s daughter. “

“I am. But I hope you will tell no one that I came down here.”

He nodded gravely.

“So you have disobeyed orders …”

“I was lost,” I said firmly.

“I would not like it to be known that I was so foolish.”

“So you are asking a favour of me?”

I merely suggest that you do not mention this trivial matter. ” ” It is not trivial to me. Mademoiselle. “

“I do not understand you. Monsieur Ie Comte.”

“So you know me?”

“Everyone in the neighbourhood knows you.”

“I wonder how much you know of me.”

“Only who you are and that you are Margot’s father and that you come from France to visit Derringham from time to time.”

My daughter has talked of me, has she? “

“Now and then.”

“She has told you of my many … what is the word?”

“Sins, do you mean? If you would prefer to speak in French …”

“I see you have formed an opinion of me. I am a sinner ,i who does not speak your language as well as you speak mine.” He was talking in rapid French, hoping, I knew, that I should not understand, but I had had a good grounding and my fear was deserting me; moreover, although I knew that I was in a difficult situation and he was the sort of man who would not be chivalrous enough to help me out of it, I could not suppress a certain exhilaration. I replied in French that I had thought the word he was searching for was the one I had supplied and if he was thinking of something else would he give it to me in French and I was sure I should understand.

“I see,” he said, still speaking very quickly, ‘that you are a spirited young lady. Now let us understand each other. You seek my daughter Marguerite, whom you call Margot. She is hiding on the upper floor of the house. You know this yet you seek her down here. Ah, Mademoiselle, you did not seek Marguerite but to satisfy your curiosity. Come, admit it. ” He frowned in a manner which was, I was sure, calculated to strike terror in those who observed it.

“I do not like people to tell me untruths.”

“Well,” I said, determined not to be browbeaten, ‘it is my first visit to a house of this type and I do admit to a certain curiosity. “

“Natural, very natural. You have very pretty hair. Mademoiselle. I would say it is the colour of the corn in August. Would you agree?”

“You are pleased to flatter me.”

He put up a hand and caught a strand of my hair which my mother had curled carefully and which was tied back with a blue riband to match my dress.

I felt uneasy, yet the exhilaration persisted. I was forced to move closer to him as he pulled at my hair. I could see his face very clearly, the shadow under the luminous dark eyes, the brows thick, yet finely marked. He was the most striking-looking man I had ever seen.

“And now,” I said, “I should go.”

“You came at your pleasure,” he reminded me, ‘and I think it only courteous that you should leave at mine. “

“As we are concerned with courtesy you will not detain me against my will.”

“But we are discussing the courtesy you owe me. I owe you none, remember. You are the intruder. Oh, Mademoiselle, to peep into my bedchamber! To pry so! Shame on you!”

His eyes were sparkling. I remembered Margot’s talk of his unpredictability. At the moment he was amused, hi a short time he might not be.

I jerked my hair out of his hand and stood up.

“I apologize for my curiosity,” I said.

“It was most ill-mannered of me. You must do what you think fit about the matter. If you wish to tell Sir John …” I thank you for your permission,” he said. He was beside me, and to my horror he put his arms about me and held me against him.

Then his finger was under my chin lifting my face.

“When we transgress,” he went on, ‘we must pay for our sins. This is the payment I ask. ” He took my face in his hands and kissed me on the lips not once but many times.

I was horrified. I had never been kissed in such a way before. I wrenched myself free and ran.

The thought uppermost in my mind was that he had treated me as a serving girl. I was horrified. Moreover, it was my own fault.

I stumbled out of the room. I found the spiral staircase and as I started up it I heard a movement behind me. For a moment I thought it was the Comte in pursuit and I felt numb with terror.

Margot said: “What are you doing down here, Minelle?”

I turned. She was flushed and her eyes were dancing.

“Where have you been?” I demanded.

“Where have you" She put her fingers to her lips.

“Come on. Upstairs.”

We went up the staircase. At the top, she turned to me and laughed. We went into the solarium together.