The trio of women scribes prodded him, as though satellites of the sport instead of fashion page.
The dapper designer plunged.
“I admit that there was a small fracas, but it was due entirely to a misunderstanding. It is all patched up now, therefore not worth mentioning. For once I was at fault in my choice of an employee. You will agree, I am sure, that my little attempt at an artistic display would not have carried an evil suggestion to the clean minds for whose pleasure and profit it was planned. I scarcely know how to express myself, friends. Do try to appreciate my position.”
He glanced, as if for helpful suggestion, toward Mary Hutton, then went on, evidently planning his defense in its delivery.
“The poor girl was hysterical from nervous strain over her first public appearance. She could not have intended to give such rein to her impulses as—as—— Of course, a woman who will exhibit herself in such a rôle is not exactly—— Well, I’ll not go into that. But I owe it to myself to say that even I, experienced at judging women by their face values, would not have believed our guileless-looking Dolores Trent capable of a deliberate attempt to compromise an employer who——”
“Cad!”
At the interruption, Seff took a backward step, evidently remembering the reach and force of the speaker’s punch.
John Cabot, with a frown, stayed the three women and lone man who, having been given the all-important name of the woman in the case, were on the point of taking wing.
“Best give a minute,” he advised. “You haven’t got the real story yet. This sale is a fake. The goods were manufactured in Seff’s own sweatshops right here in New York. The money was taken under false pretenses. I am not in position to state just how usual among supposedly high-class shops is the sort of indelicacy we’ve witnessed this morning. Fortunately, however, I am able to make an example of this instance. I am John Cabot. I ask you to investigate.”
“I have heard enough of this contemptible attack, no matter who or what you are.” Seff hurled himself into the breach as bravely as his condition would permit. “Nothing but respect for the feelings of your wife has kept me from having you ejected before this. You cannot influence the newspapers against us. We are, as you should know, persistent advertisers. I ask you now to go quietly and at once, before I——”