Part 22 (2/2)
She transferred her attentions to the manager. ”And you--are those the lines on which your hotel is conducted, that you hand over, in their absence, the belongings of your guests to the tender mercies of such a man as this? If so, then your methods of management ought to be known more widely than they are. Decent people will then know what they have to expect when they trust themselves inside your doors.”
Treadwater did not seem as if he altogether relished the fas.h.i.+on of the lady's speech. He began to make excuses.
”I protested against Mr. Ireland's action; but on his producing a search warrant, I yielded to the pressure of necessity.”
”The pressure of necessity! Do you call this the pressure of necessity?”
Miss Strong pointed a scornful finger at Mr. Ireland. Ostentatiously ignoring her, the detective addressed himself to the manager.
”I'm going now, Mr. Treadwater. I'll leave one of my men behind me. If Mr. Paxton returns, he'll deal with him.”
The lady interposed.
”What do you mean--he'll deal with him?”
”What do I mean? I mean that Mr. Paxton will be arrested as soon as he shows his nose inside the door. And I'll tell you what, Miss Strong, if you were to use fewer hard words, and were to do something to prove Mr. Paxton's innocence, instead of talking big about it, you might do him more good than you're likely to do by the way in which you've been going on up to now. I'll put these things together and take them with me.”
By ”these things” Mr. Ireland meant Mr. Paxton's. He moved towards the table. Miss Strong thrust herself between him and it.
”Don't touch them--don't dare to touch them! Don't dare to touch Cyril's property! Do you suppose that, because you're a policeman, all the world can be cowed into suffering you to commit open robbery?”
She clutched at the table with both her hands, glaring at him like some wild cat. Shrugging his shoulders, Ireland laughed, shortly, grimly.
”Very good, Miss Strong. There is nothing there which is of the slightest consequence in this particular case. You are welcome to take them in your custody. Only, remember, you a.s.sume the responsibility for their safe keeping.”
”The man who forces open another man's portmanteau without the knowledge of its owner becomes, I fancy, at once responsible for its contents. And I promise you that if the slightest article is missing you will be taught that even a policeman can be called to account.”
Without attempting to answer her, Ireland went towards the door, pausing, as he went, to whisper to Mr. Franklyn--
”Why did you bring her with you? She'll only make bad worse.”
Mr. Franklyn shrugged his shoulders, as the detective himself had done.
”I didn't bring her! She brought me!”
Miss Strong's clear tones came after the detective.
”You set a man to spy on me, Mr. Ireland, and now I mean to spy on you. We'll see if turn and turn about is not fair play, and if you dare to try to prevent my going exactly where I please.”
Still ignoring her, Ireland went into the hall. There he found Hollier in waiting.
”Any report, Hollier?”
”Nothing material, sir. I followed Mr. Franklyn to Medina Villas and back, but saw nothing to cause me to suppose that he was in communication with Mr. Paxton.”
”You remain here until I relieve you. If Mr. Paxton returns, arrest him. Send for me if I am required. I will leave a man outside, so that you can have help, if it is needed.”
Ireland went through the hall, and through the door, Miss Strong hard upon his heels. On the steps he turned and spoke to her.
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