The lure of the flesh was upon him.

It was stronger than his will, stronger than his love.
For months this woman had beguiled him.

There had been times when he was compelled to fight himself,--times when he asked: "Why not ?" She was alluring, she was frankly a sensualist; but she was patient, she was crafty.

She knew that he was honourably in love with another, but she was not deterred by that nor by the conviction that her conquest, if she prevailed, would be transitory.

She had a code of her own.