“Everything was as silent as death, sir,” added the second.
“This is most incredible! The girl seems to have been a sorceress as well as a poisoner, and to have vanished up the chimney in a flame of fire!” exclaimed the doctor, in an angry dismay.
“I beg your worship’s pardon,” said the principal policeman, coming up and touching his forehead to the magistrate.
“Well, Sims, what is it?”
“I think, sir, as the prisoner could not have escaped through either of the doors guarded by me or my comrade, that she must have got out in some other manner, and that this young woman, who stayed with her all night must know all about it; and with submission to your worship, I think she ought to be made to tell.”
“Oh! ought I? I’d like to see who’ll make me tell anything I don’t want to tell!” exclaimed Miss Tabs, thrown as completely off her guard as any passionate person may be if one can only succeed in making them angry.
“I agree with you,” said the doctor to the policeman. Then turning to Tabitha, he said: “Young woman, you have betrayed yourself. You evidently know something of this mysterious escape of the prisoner. And we must insist upon your divulging all that you do know.”
“Werry well, insist away; I aint no manner of objection to your insisting as much as ever you please,” replied Tabitha, folding her arms, setting her teeth, and grinning defiance at the doctor.
“How did the prisoner escape from the room?” demanded the latter.
“I don’t know,” replied Tabitha.