"Certainly! Provided you accept me as your escort."
"As you please," she replied disdainfully. "As for you, Miss Bellin," she added, turning toward Olivia, "I wish you joy of your bargain. That man is Francis Briarfield, sure enough. I knew it all along, and played on his fears for my own ends. He is a coward, and Felix was worth a dozen of him. For you, Mr. Briarfield, I have nothing but contempt."
With this parting shaft she sailed out of the door, closely followed by me. The detective was waiting on the other side of the street, and followed us closely. Rose glanced uneasily from side to side, but not one word would she speak. Nor did I wish her to talk, having quite enough on my mind for the present. When we arrived at the stage door of the Frivolity Theater, she halted on the step. In the light shed from the lamp above I could see her scornful face.
"What I have promised I shall do, Mr. Denham," she said spitefully; "but to-morrow I can tell you nothing. With all your cleverness as a spy, you have discovered nothing but a mare's nest."
When she entered the theater, I turned round to the detective, whom I found at my elbow.
"You know what you have to do?" I said imperatively.
"Yes, sir. I saw her face in the light. You can depend upon me; I shan't lose sight of her."
"She is to come to Mr. Briarfield's rooms to-morrow at noon."
"That's all right, sir. I'll see she is there."
"Good. Be very careful. She is a clever woman, and would baffle the devil himself."