"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."