But at the bank he was told that the proprietor had
gone home, and he drove to the house only to learn that Senor
Garavel and his daughter had left for Las Savannas not half an
hour before. So, back through the city he urged his driver, across
the bridge, and out along the country road.
Darkness had settled when he returned, raging at the trickery that
had been practised upon him. If they thought to gain their point
by sending him on wildgoose chases like this, they were greatly
mistaken. He proposed to have Chiquita now, if he had to burst his
way to her through barred doors. Never in all his easy, careless
life had anything of moment been denied him, never had he felt
such bitterness of thwarted longing. Reared in a way to foster a
disregard of all restraint and a contempt for other people's
rights, he was in a fitting mood for any reckless project, and the
mere thought that they should undertake to coerce an Anthony
filled him with grim amusement. He had yielded to their left-
handed customs out of courtesy; it was time now to show his
strength.
What folly he might have committed it is hard to tell, but he was
prevented from putting any extravagant plan into operation by a
message from the girl herself.
As he dismissed his coachman and turned toward his quarters,
Stephanie came to him out of the shadows.
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