"I request Mr. Hamilton to be called. He will prove to you that you
are greatly mistaken." Everything looked pretty black, I can tell you.
"You will see whom you please, but only after you are safely landed in
the lockup. Now, Madame,"--turning swiftly upon the Blue Domino, "what
is your part in this fine business?"
"It certainly has no part in yours,"--icily.
Haggerty smiled. "My skin is very thick. Do you know this fellow?"
She shook her head. He stood undecided for a space.
"Let me see your card."
"I decline to produce it,"--haughtily.
Haggerty seemed staggered for a moment. "I am sorry to annoy you, but
you must be identified at once."
"And why?"--proudly. "Was it forbidden to go into the club cellars for
such harmless things as apples?"
Apples! I looked at her admiringly.
"Apples?" repeated Haggerty. "Couldn't you have sent a servant for
them?"
She did not reply.
"You were with this clever gentleman in the cellars. You may or may
not be acquainted with him. I do not wish to do anything hasty in
regard to yourself, but your position is rather equivocal. Produce
your card and be identified--if you really can."
"I refuse!"
"Then I shall ask you to accompany us to the room up stairs till the
police-patrol arrives."
"I will go,"--quietly.
"Nonsense!" I objected. "On my word of honor, I do not know this lady.
Our presence in the cellar was perfectly harmless. There is no valid
reason for detaining her. It is an outrage!"
"I am not going to stand here arguing with you," said Haggerty. "Let
the lady produce her card; let her disclose her identity. That is
simple enough."
"I have already given you my determination on that subject," replied
the girl. "I can very well explain my presence here, but I absolutely
decline to explain it to the police."
I didn't understand her at all. She had said that she possessed an
alibi. Why didn't she produce it?
So the two of us left the gorgeous ball-room. Every one moved aside
for us, and quickly, too, as if we had had the plague. I looked in
vain for Hamilton. He was a friend in need. We were taken into the
steward's office and the door was shut and locked. The band in the
ball-room went galloping through a two-step, and the gaiety was in full
swing again. The thief had been rounded up! How the deuce was it
going to end?