“Murder?” came from Frank.
“What does he mean?” gasped Jack.
The woman seemed to force a laugh from her lips, which had grown colorless beneath their rouge.
“What are you talking about, you old fool?” she exclaimed, rather coarsely. “You are crazy! You should be incarcerated in an asylum, and not permitted to run around here and frighten folks with your wild babble.”
Mr. Noname drew himself up, speaking quietly, so that he did not seem to be saying anything unusual. In fact, everything that had taken place at that table had occurred so quietly that those at the tables in the immediate vicinity were not aware anything out of the ordinary was happening.
“Others whom I have exposed in their deviltry have tried to make the public believe me insane,” said Mr. Noname. “They have not been successful, for always have I proved everything I have charged against them. You, woman with the hidden face, I charge with an attempt at murder!”
Again she forced that scornful laugh.
“Gentlemen,” she said, turning to Merry and Diamond, “will you be good enough to call a waiter. I wish to enter complaint against this crazy man.”
“Call a waiter,” said Mr. Noname. “I will call one for you.”
He did so, making a signal which caused one of the waiters to approach.