Dolores scuffled out, still gabbling unintelligibly in Spanish, but
reappeared almost at once with a jug of hot water. She stood watching
Myra with mingled curiosity and admiration as her fair charge washed
after leisurely undressing, then put on her chic night-dress and
dressing-gown, and a filmy, attractive boudoir cap.
"Señor Cojuelo said something about refreshments," said Myra, hoping
she would make Mother Dolores understand, and trying to remember some
of the Spanish words she had learned. "I should like a cup of
coffee--café--or a glass of vino, and a cigarette--cigarillo.
Entender?"
"Si, si, señorita," answered Dolores. "Café, vino, aguardiene,
cigarillo, Todo pronto."
She opened the door and made signals to Myra that she wished her to
return with her to the outer apartment, at the same time letting loose
another torrent of words.
"Perhaps meals in bed-rooms are charged extra!" Myra remarked, and
laughed at the idea.
She was conscious of no sensation of actual fear, but she was curious
and apprehensive as to how El Diablo Cojuelo would behave, remembering
his reputation and his hint that he might fall in love with her and
refuse to surrender her no matter how great the ransom offered.
Still smiling, Myra slid her bare feet into her bedroom slippers and
accompanied Mother Dolores back through the maze of crooked, rocky
passages to the outer apartment.
"Comer e heber e fumar, señorita," said Dolores, indicating a tray set
on a stool close by the electric heater. On the tray stood a steaming
jug of coffee, a flagon of cognac, a plate of biscuits, a cup and
saucer, and a silver cigarette-box.
"More magic!" commented Myra, as Dolores set a chair for her and poured
out a glass of cognac which she insisted upon Myra drinking at once.
Then she poured out coffee, gabbled something about the "bueno
maestro," and withdrew.
Left alone, Myra sipped the fragrant coffee and looked about her with
interest.
"This is certainly brigandage up to date!" she reflected. "I wonder
what manner of man El Diablo Cojuelo is?"
A minute or two later she heard a movement behind her and glanced over
her shoulder expecting to see Mother Dolores, but saw instead the
hooded figure of El Diablo Cojuelo. Instinctively, she drew her silken
dressing-gown closer around her and started to her feet.
"I am sorry if I startled you, señorita," said Cojuelo. "It is a
delightful surprise to find you like this."