"Tony will not fail me," said Myra bravely, but her heart misgave her,
and already she was repenting of her impulsive promise.
Don Carlos rang the bell, and gave some rapid orders to Garcilaso, who
appeared in answer to the summons. The man at first apparently did not
grasp what was required of him, but presently nodded understanding,
withdrew and returned in a few minutes, accompanied by Riafio, who was
carrying a pair of handcuffs and a coil of rope.
"What are the handcuffs for?" asked Myra apprehensively.
"They are for me, dear lady," explained Don Carlos, with a ghost of a
smile. "It would not do to let Mr. Standish think that even El Diablo
Cojuelo could manage to keep Don Carlos a prisoner without fettering
him. Incidentally, I must give myself the appearance of having been
roughly handled or Standish may smell a rat."
He flung off his coat as he spoke, tore off his collar and rumpled his
hair, then ordered Riafio to handcuff him.
"Garcilaso and Riafio will now thrust me into the cell in which Mr.
Standish is imprisoned, and he and I will have a little confidential
talk about you and El Diablo Cojuelo," he resumed. "Standish naturally
imagines that Don Carlos was captured at the same time as your charming
self, and he will doubtless give me his confidence. It may be that he
will be the more ready to surrender you when he learns that Don Carlos
will be prepared to ransom you when Cojuelo has tired of you."
"More play-acting--and you are taking an unfair advantage again,"
commented Myra.
"You should thank me rather than blame me for putting Standish's love
for you to the test," responded Don Carlos, with a shrug. "Pray make
yourself comfortable until I return to call on you to redeem your
promise. Adios!"
He gave more orders to his men, sternly bidding them restrain their
mirth, for they were treating the affair as a huge joke, and both tried
to assume an expression of ferocity as they marched him out.
Left alone, Myra flung herself down on the couch and pressed her hands
to her burning cheeks.
"Oh, surely, surely he won't succeed in fooling or intimidating Tony
into surrendering me," she whispered, feeling shaken to the depths. "I
feel confident Tony won't give me up, and yet--oh, I wish I hadn't made
that promise. I don't want to marry Don Carlos unless--oh, this is
driving me crazy! What did he mean by saying Don Carlos might ransom
me when Cojuelo had tired of me?"