''Not very reputable by all accounts,' said Captain Rogers with a loud unmeaning laugh. 'Rather hot stuff, I imagine.'

'Haydon paid no attention to him.

''In the centre of the Grove there should be a Temple,' he said. 'I can't run to Temples, but I have indulged in a little fancy of - my own.'

'We had at that moment stepped out into a little clearing in the centre of the trees. In the middle of it was something not unlike a summer-house made of stone. Diana Ashley looked inquiringly at Haydon.

''I call it The Idol House,' he said. 'It is the Idol House of Astarte.'

'He led the way up to it. Inside, on a rude ebony pillar, there reposed a curious little image representing a woman with crescent horns, seated on a lion.

''Astarte of the Phoenicians,' said Haydon, 'the Goddess of the Moon.'

''The Goddess of the Moon,' cried Diana. 'Oh, do let us have a wild orgy tonight. Fancy dress. And we will come out here in the moonlight and celebrate the rites of Astarte.'

'I made a sudden movement and Elliot Haydon, Richard's cousin, turned quickly to me.

''You don't like all this, do you, Padre?' he said.

''No,' I said gravely, 'I don't.'

'He looked at me curiously. 'But it is only tomfoolery. Dick can't know that this really is a sacred grove. It is just a fancy of his; he likes to play with the idea. What do you say, Symonds?'

'The doctor was silent a minute or two before he replied. Then he said quietly:

''I don't like it. I can't tell you why. But somehow or other, I don't like it.'

'At that moment Violet Mannering came across to me.

''I hate this place,' she cried. 'I hate it. Do let's get out of it.'

'We moved away and the others followed us. Only Diana Ashley lingered. I turned my head over my shoulder and saw her standing in front of the Idol House gazing earnestly at the image within it.

'The day was an unusually hot and beautiful one and Diana Ashley's suggestion of a Fancy Dress party that evening was received with general favour.