“So I think you ought to be,” said Gerard, still fixing him with his keen blue eyes as he went on speaking, and disregarding every attempt made by the other man to distract his attention by casual comments. “You know very well that there was nothing surprising in the fact that a lady, brought face to face with such a charge, should wish to exchange a few words with her friends. I believe such a privilege is usually allowed, is it not?”
“I believe so, sir.”
“Then why were you so strict?”
The man looked at his companion, but Gerard refused again to divert his gaze from the man he questioned, who fidgeted uneasily under this interrogatory.
“Ladies are difficult people to deal with, sir,” he said, in the same hoarse whisper as before. “One doesn’t want to be harsh, yet one is afraid of being talked round. Especially in such a case, sir.”
He was conciliatory, almost apologetic. At last Gerard relaxed his look, and turned to the other man.
“What is it you want my wife to do?” he asked briefly.
There was a hesitating silence.
“Do I understand that she is to be taken before a magistrate to-night?”
No answer.