Part 20 (1/2)

You and Miss Rostrevor are as completely lost to the world here, and as helpless as you would be if the earth had swallowed you up.”

”Oh, I quite realise you are in a position to dictate terms at present, if that's what you are getting at?” Tony exclaimed. ”Why not get down to business without all this palaver? Look here, I'll pay you 10,000 pesetas to set Miss Rostrevor at liberty and give her safe conduct back to the Castle de Ruiz.”

”Ten thousand pesetas,” repeated Don Carlos. ”Dios! Ten thousand pesetas! Miss Rostrevor, I congratulate you! Ten thousand pesetas are the Spanish equivalent of about sixty pounds, in English money. You see what a fabulous value your lover places on you. Sixty pounds! You must indeed feel flattered!”

Tony Standish's face crimsoned in annoyance, and a vicious expression flashed into his pale blue eyes.

”How much do you want?” he snapped.

Don Carlos did not answer. He rose from the table and walked to and fro, reiterating:

”Ten thousand pesetas--sixty pounds!”

Tony cursed under his breath, then his glance fell on the automatic pistol lying on the table, and he s.n.a.t.c.hed it up and levelled it at his captor.

”Hands up, or I'll put a bullet through you!” he cried excitedly.

”Ten thousand pesetas--sixty pounds!” sneered Don Carlos again, paying no heed to the pistol levelled at him. ”So that is the value you place on the woman you profess to love!”

Stung to fury and scarcely realising what he was doing, Tony Standish fired, but the shot did not seem to take effect, and before he could fire a second time Myra sprang at him and s.n.a.t.c.hed the pistol from his hand. As she did so, the two guards dashed into the room, grappled with Tony and bore him to the floor. One of them put a knife to the Englishman's throat, and twisted round his head to call out something to his master.

”No, not now,” said Don Carlos shortly, in Spanish. ”Take him away, manacle him, and guard him closely.”

The men dragged Standish to his feet and hustled him out of the room, and as they did so Don Carlos reeled, a gasping cry broke from him, and he collapsed in a heap on the floor.

CHAPTER XV

Trembling with excitement and agitation, dazed by the suddenness of the seeming tragedy, Myra stood rigid for a few moments, then threw aside the pistol she had s.n.a.t.c.hed from Tony and ran to Don Carlos, flinging herself down on her knees beside him, and tearing off his cowl with shaking hands.

”Are you badly hurt?” she cried breathlessly, horrified to see that Don Carlos's pale face was contorted in pain and his eyes were closed.

”Where are you wounded, Don Carlos? Shall I call for Mother Dolores?”

There was no response save a low moan, Don Carlos's limbs stretched out as if they were stiffening into the rigour of death, and his head sagged back as Myra tried to raise it. Temporarily, Myra completely lost her head.

”Speak to me, Don Carlos,” she gasped brokenly. ”Open your eyes and look at me, darling. Oh, surely, surely you can't be going to die!

What can I do? Oh, my dear, my dear--”

Her voice failed her, she tried to cry out for help but sobs choked her utterance. Don Carlos's eyes fluttered open for a moment then closed again.

”Kiss me, Myra darling,” he moaned faintly. ”Kiss me, my sweet love.”

Quivering with emotion, Myra bent down and pressed her trembling lips to his--and immediately found herself encircled by two strong arms, found the eyes of the ”dying” man open and glowing with life and ardour, found herself crushed in a close embrace, and being kissed, and kissed, and kissed.

She struggled, broke free, and scrambled to her feet, her brain in a turmoil, and almost instantly Don Carlos also was on his feet, laughing exultantly.

”Myra, darling, surely you can no longer persist in pretending you do not love me,” he exclaimed breathlessly. ”If you hated me, as you professed, you would have let Standish try to fire a second time. I have put you to the test and proved that you love me.”

Myra, agitated, bewildered, torn by conflicting emotions, gazed at him wide-eyed.

”But--but aren't you wounded?” she stammered. ”Have you only been pretending?”