took precautions against any
unwanted visitor. I shall always lock and bolt my door in future."

"Isn't there an old saying that love laughs at locksmiths?" inquired
Don Carlos, his expression still sphinx-like, but his eyes twinkling.
"You looked delicious in your nightie and boudoir cap, Myra."

"I shall remember to put on my dressing gown next time I am expecting
burglars," responded Myra, flushing slightly. "Thank you for saving
me, gallant sir."

She was wondering whether it was Don Carlos or the burglar who had
tried her door, and she could hazard a guess as to why Carlos had
happened to be in the corridor at two o'clock in the morning.

"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