Greyville started a little.
"What foolishness is this of yours?"
"Oh! only silliness, of course," and she laughed loudly. "But Hal's all right, and, now that his scruples have had a pickle, I allow he'll come around to my cherished plan, and we'll make it warm for you!"
"What! you dare to threaten me?"
"Didn't I tell you I'd go for you if you didn't reform? Well, I must be off. How's my stately sister? How's the countess? Ha! ha! ha! shoot her. She's an old hag, with a glass eye and false teeth. The future Mrs. G! Bah! and such a model private excursion steamer, too! Still, it serves its purpose. I'm off now—just come up to spice your breakfast. Better mend your ways. The way of the transgressor is hard. By-by! Yours, truly, Silly Sue!"
And then, with a wild laugh, she vanished.
CHAPTER IX.
FRITZ'S DISCOVERY.
Let us return to our ventriloquist detective and his venturesome expedition.