to
me--and leave my bedroom door unlocked! What infernal, stupendous,
insulting cheek! ... Yet I suppose he accepted what I said to Tony as
an invitation and a challenge--as I intended. Heavens! if anyone
should have seen him leaving my room at this time of the morning, I
shouldn't have a rag of reputation left. I should be hopelessly
compromised, and it wouldn't be much use producing this letter in the
hope of clearing myself. Still, I don't suppose anyone else was
prowling about at this time of the night or morning... I wonder if he
touched me or kissed me? I wonder if he is really in love with me? I
wonder..."

Myra did quite a lot of wondering before she eventually drifted into
slumber again, and when she was reawakened by her maid bringing her
morning tea, it was to find that she had been sleeping with Don
Carlos's note clasped against her breast.

"I suppose the wisest and safest course will be to make no reference
whatever to the letter, and to pretend I don't know what he is talking
about if Don Carlos has the cheek to refer to it," Myra soliloquised,
as she dressed. "After all, I deliberately provoked him, and I should
have been disappointed if he had taken no notice. I shall keep the
letter and challenge him about it later. Meanwhile I shall hold him to
his promise not to make love to me, yet do my utmost to make him break
his word. I wonder what will happen if I do make him fall in love with
me in earnest. Life is becoming quite an adventure!"

So she made no reference to the letter when by chance she found herself
alone with Don Carlos for a time during the course of the afternoon,
but continued to exert herself to be "nice" to him. And when Myra
Rostrevor set herself out to fascinate, she was an exceedingly alluring
and seductive creature. Her sweetness, graciousness, and the inviting
and enticing glances of her blue eyes obviously had a strong effect on
Don Carlos, and fired his ardour.

"Myra, why are you torturing and tantalising me in this fashion?" he
burst out suddenly. "Confess that you love me, darling, and release me
from my promise not to make love to you."

"Why, you dear, conceited man, don't you understand it is only because
you pledged your word not to make love to me that I am being nice to
you?" Myra replied, with her bewitching smile. "If you break your
promise, I shall immediately freeze up again and keep you at a
distance."

"You are cruel, senorita," commented D