“Will you help me count this?”
Mason said tersely, “It’s your party, Captain.”
The captain nodded to the purser. “Very well, Mr. Buchanan, we’ll count the money.”
They opened the pockets of the money belt. The captain placed the contents of each pocket on the bed, where it was in plain sight of the people in the room. Somewhat clumsily, his sturdy, competent fingers separated the bills of large denomination. He and the purser added the total. “Eighteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars,” the captain announced.
“This money is yours, Mrs. Newberry?” the captain asked.
Mason said, “Does it make any difference whether it belongs to her or to her husband, Captain?”
“It may,” the captain said. “I want her to answer that question.”
She said, “It’s...”
“You don’t have to answer any question you don’t want to, ” Mason warned.
“It’s my money,” she declared vehemently.