Bandit Love

"I am thinking of becoming a burglar myself, dear lady, but please do

not wear your dressing gown on that account," laughed Don Carlos.

"I am wondering what might have happened if I had left my door

unlocked," said Myra, assuming a thoughtful expression, but avoiding

Don Carlos's eyes. "I feel half-inclined to leave it unlocked and

unbolted to-night and risk the consequences."

Again, however, she was careful to bolt and lock her bedroom door when

she retired that night, but again she sat up in bed, as on the previous

night, waiting and watching. And again, in the early hours of the

morning, she saw the door handle turn, and she trilled out a laugh,

hoping that the would-be "burglar" would hear it.

She continued to exercise her impish arts of tantalisation and her

wiles of fascination on Don Carlos during the remainder of her stay at

Auchinleven. Sometimes she would seem, metaphorically, to throw

herself at his head and appear to be eager to surrender herself, at

other times she would completely ignore him, and make open love to Tony

in his presence. As time went on she realised that she was driving the

Don almost to distraction, and she gloried in her powers.

"I feel certain that I have made him fall in love with me in earnest,"

Myra reflected triumphantly. "He boasted that no woman could resist

him. Women have been his playthings, and he must have fooled many.

Now he is being fooled himself. I think he is desperately in love with

me now."

She was right in her surmise. Don Carlos's love for her had become a

burning, consuming passion. It needed the exercise of all his will

power to keep it under control, and continually he had to curb his

ardent passion and remind himself of his promise not to make love. But

he was biding his time and had made a vow that he would make Myra pay

in full for her coquetry.

The house party broke up at length and the guests dispersed, Myra and

her aunt returning to London for the "Little Season" and to equip

themselves for the winter cruise in Tony's yacht, which was being

refitted at Southampton.

Don Carlos had begged to be allowed to call, and both Lady Fermanagh

and Myra had said graciously that they would be delighted to see him at

any time.

"My thanks to you for having succeeded in keeping your promise," said

Myra, as they parted. "Accept my congratulations."

"One reaches Heaven by way of Purgatory," responded Don Carlos

cryptically. "I am looking forward eagerly to our next meeting, when I

shall be free to express myself."