"Yes."
"Then wait till I see the chief, and I'll go with you. Say nothing about this matter yet."
Reynolds was gone but a moment. A little later Cram and the aide were at the St. Charles rotunda, their cards sent up to the Allertons' rooms. Presently down came the bell-boy. Would the gentleman walk up to the parlor? This was awkward. They wanted to see Allerton himself, and Cram felt morally confident that Miss Flora Gwendolen would be on hand to welcome and chat with so distinguished a looking fellow as Reynolds. There was no help for it, however. It would be possible to draw off the head of the family after a brief call upon the ladies. Just as they were leaving the marble-floored rotunda, a short, swarthy man in "pepper-and-salt" business suit touched Cram on the arm, begged a word, and handed him a card.
"A detective,—already?" asked Cram, in surprise.
"I was with the chief when Lieutenant Pierce came in to report the matter," was the brief response, "and I came here to see your man. He is reluctant to tell what he knows without your consent. Could you have him leave the horses with your orderly below and come up here a moment?"
"Why, certainly, if you wish; but I can't see why," said Cram, surprised.
"You will see, sir, in a moment."
And then Jeffers, with white, troubled face, appeared, and twisted his wet hat-brim in nervous worriment.
"Now what do you want of him?" asked Cram.
"Ask him, sir, who was the man who slipped a greenback into his hand at the ladies' entrance last evening. What did he want of him?"