What followed would always be vividly remembered by Florence, fresh from the peace and happiness of her school life. Norton knocked his opponent down. He rose and for a moment the room seemed full of legs and arms and panting men. A foot tripped up Norton and he went down under the bogus detective. He never suspected that the tripping foot was not accidental. He was too busy.
The other man dragged Florence toward the hall, but there the peaceful butler entered into the field of action with a very unattractive automatic. The detective threw up his hands.
The struggle went on in the library. A trick of jiu-jutsu brought about the downfall of Norton's man, and Norton ran out into the hall to aid Jones. He searched the detective's pockets and secured the revolver. The result of all this was that the two bogus detectives soon found themselves in charge of two policemen, and they were marched off to the station.
"Your advent was most providential, Mr. Norton," said Jones in his usual colorless tones.
"I rather believe so. Why don't you pack up and clear out for a while?"
"I am stronger in this house than elsewhere," answered the butler enigmatically.
"Well, you know best," said the reporter.
The countess was breathing rapidly. No, on second thought she had no wish to throw her arms about the reporter's neck and kiss him.