The Duc turned his back on Syrilla and stood looking out of the turret window with unseeing eyes.

"I am certainly not the Knight you believed me to be. I have committed every indecent crime imaginable. I have even ruined innocent women's lives simply because it amused me."

He drew in his breath.

"I am a debauched man, Syrilla. A man who has dragged a noble title into the gutter and, smeared it with mud!"

He spoke with such self-hate that she felt tears come into her eyes.

"But you are different, Syrilla . . . so innocent, pure and beautiful. You are perfection ..."

The Duc paused; then he spoke fiercely:

"Take me as I am, and I swear I'll do whatever you want. But if you can't, you must disappear from my life now ... and forever."