Part 88 (2/2)
”Halt!”
The sharp command of the Captain rang outside the door.
”Get into this room--quick--” the girl cried, pus.h.i.+ng Socola into the adjoining room and slamming the door as d.i.c.k entered the hall.
She faced the Captain with a smile.
”It's all right, now, d.i.c.k. I thought I had discovered an important secret. It was a mistake--”
The Captain smiled.
”You don't mind my looking about the house?”
”_Searching_ the house?”
”Just the lower floor?”
”I do mind it. How dare you suggest such a thing, sir--”
”Because I've made a guess at the truth. You discovered important evidence incriminating Socola. Your first impulse was to do your duty--you weakened at the last moment--”
”Absurd!” she gasped.
”I happened to hear a door slam as I entered. I'll have to look around a little.”
He started to the door behind which Socola had taken refuge. Jennie confronted him.
”You can't go in there--”
”It's no use, Jennie--I'm going to search that room--the whole house if necessary.”
”Why?”
”I know that Socola is here--”
”And if he is?”
”I'll arrest him--”
”On what charge?”
”He is a Federal spy and you know it--”
”You can't prove it.”
”I've found the evidence. I have searched his rooms--”
”Searched his _rooms_?”
”Your servant told me that he was here. I leaped to a conclusion, forced his door and found this--”
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