He was very much taken aback and shocked by this unaccountable display of effrontery.
“Then you do not deny it?”
“Certainly not!” she replied calmly. “I admit it.[Pg 253]”
“Then stand aside! I shall search the house!”
“By all means,” said she. “The more time you waste over it, the better for me.”
Now, there might be some truth in this. He hesitated, scowling, staring at the criminal, who returned his stare without flinching. He saw that he had no ordinary person to deal with. This was a master mind.
“I shall call the police,” he said, but he didn’t mean it.
“Pray do!” said she.
It was Mr. Donalds’s belief that those who could not be bullied must be bribed; so he changed his tone.
“Madam,” he said, “my sole object is the recovery of the child. To accomplish this, I am willing—”