“I will fetch you some fresh maté,” Neengai said softly, offering the only panacea she knew for a troubled mind and she hurried away before Skye could tell her that she wanted nothing.

She dreaded El Diablo’s return and yet at the same time she wanted to see him, the suspense was intolerable beset by her fears and her terror.

She sipped the maté when the Indian girl brought it, but it seemed to stick in her throat.

Hour after hour went by and then at length there came a sudden shout from below.

Skye ran to the window to see El Diablo and six of his followers come riding into the camp.

The setting sun shone on the silver of his harness and saddle as he swung himself off his horse. It glinted too on his spurs. He stopped to speak to several men who had obviously been waiting for his return and then at length he left them and started in an unhurried manner to climb the steep stone stairway that led to the caves.

Skye drew back from the window.

Now that he was coming she could feel her heart beating in a manner that made her feel sick and she gripped her hands together in an effort to force herself to think calmly of what she must say and what she must do.

But it was impossible for her to stop the trembling of her knees.

She heard his footsteps ring out on the wooden floor of the sitting room, heard his voice, low and deep, as he gave an order to someone to bring him a glass of wine.

And then there was silence.

She expected him to come to the door of her bedroom, she expected him to send for her, but nothing happened.

She stood plucking with nervous fingers at the iron grille, waiting, waiting!

She could have gone to him, but she could not force herself to do so. She could only wait and wonder if this was a worse humiliation than those she had suffered already.

Five minutes went by, ten, twenty and then Skye glanced at her watch. It was nearly eight o’clock. She supposed that he would send for her when dinner was ready.

In this supposition she was right.

Skye had not heard the Indian girl leave the room, but now she returned.

“Dinner is ready, señora.” She bowed and vanished.

And at last Skye must force herself from the window and cross the bedroom towards the outer cave.

She walked slowly, striving for dignity and a pride that had seemed to come so easily to her only yesterday.

She drew back the curtain.

He was standing with his back to the empty fireplace, facing her and she saw that he had changed into clothes he had worn the night before, the white shirt, vivid red sash and the long dark trousers that made him seem even taller than when he wore riding breeches.