So far he
had made a good defense, and, seeing the impression produced, he
strolled to the door. There he halted.
"If you gents want to lynch me," he said leisurely, "I'll be
found at the Sailor's Rest for the next week. Then I'm going as
skipper of The Firefly steamer, Port o' London, to Algiers. You
can send the sheriff along whenever you choose. But I mean to
have my picnic first, and to-morrow I'm going to Inspector Date
with my yarn. Then I guess that almighty aristocrat wilt find
himself in quod."
"Wait a moment," cried Braddock, running to the door. "Let me
talk to you and arrange what is best to be done. If you will--"
He proceeded no further, for without vouchsafing him a reply,
Hervey, now quite master of the situation, passed through the
door, and the Professor hastily followed him. Those who remained
looked at one another, scarcely knowing what to say, or how to
act.
"They will arrest thee, my angel," cried Donna Inez, clasping
Random's arm.
"Let them," retorted the young man defiantly. "They can prove
nothing. With all my heart and soul I believe Hervey to be the
guilty person. Hope, what do you say?--and you, Miss Kendal?"
"Hervey has certainly made an excellent defense," said Archie
cautiously.
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