Part 45 (2/2)
”But how could we know?” asked Mrs. Harrington; ”he seemed perfectly all right, although I did say he might be a murderer.”
”That'll come out in court,” Taylor reminded her disagreeably. ”If it hadn't been that my men were here to swear to me, I'd have spent the night in one of your little one-horse jails, and he'd have got away.
When I do get him he'll remember Daniel Taylor till the day he dies.”
Monty, overhearing these direful threats from behind a door, and happy because of his friend's escape, walked boldly in.
”Did you get the burglar?” he demanded airily.
”There wasn't any burglar,” Alice told him.
”It was your old friend Denby that caused all the trouble,” Michael informed him, ”the old friend you introduced into my house. I tell you, Monty--”
”Don't explain,” Taylor commanded. ”Now,” he snapped to Monty, ”have you seen Steven Denby in the last ten minutes?”
Monty found with glee that so far from being nervous he was enjoying the scene. He only regretted that his moustache was not long enough to permit him to curl it to a fierce and martial angle. He was glad that Nora had crept into the room and was watching him.
”Isn't he in bed?” he demanded, yawning.
”You know he isn't in bed,” Taylor answered. ”Maybe you're his pal--in on this job with him. Come here.”
Monty wished to refuse, but Taylor had a compelling manner, so he advanced with an insolent slowness.
Alice Harrington flew to his defence. ”That's too absurd!” she cried.
”We've known Mr. Vaughan since he was a child.”
”Who is this person?” Monty demanded superciliously.
”Never mind who I am,” Taylor said gruffly, and started to search him.
”Don't hurt him,” Nora cried, rus.h.i.+ng to her fiance's side.
”It's all right, Nora,” Monty said; submitting quietly. ”He thinks he's doing his duty. When you're through with me,” he said to Taylor, ”I'll take you to my room. You'd probably like to go through that, too.”
”Here, that'll be enough from you,” Taylor said frowning. ”You aren't smart enough to be Denby's pal. Clear out--get back to the nursery.”
Nora cast a glance of vivid hatred at him, but Taylor turned his back on her.
”Do you want us any longer?” Michael asked.
”No,” he was told. ”You can go and leave me with this girl,” pointing to Ethel, who had not said a word. ”I want a little talk with her.”
”Please keep her out of it,” Michael asked him. ”I'm sure she's absolutely innocent in the matter.”
Taylor looked at him, exasperated. ”See here,” he cried, ”you've put enough obstacles in my way to-night as it is! Do you want to put any more?”
”It's all right,” Ethel Cartwright said quickly; ”there's just some misunderstanding. Please go!”
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