"What was her appearance?"
"She seemed very tired, sir, and hungry. She still wore the masked ball costume."
The bill changed hands and Hatch was left alone again. There was a long wait, then a rustle of skirts, a light step, and Miss Dollie Meredith entered.
She was nervous, it is true, and pallid, but there was a suggestion of defiance as well as determination on her pretty mouth. Hatch stared at her in frank admiration for a moment, then, with an effort, proceeded to business.
"I presume, Miss Meredith," he said solemnly, "that the maid informed you of my identity?"
"Yes," replied Dollie weakly. "She said you were a detective."
"Ah!" exclaimed the reporter meaningly, "then we understand each other. Now, Miss Meredith, will you tell me, please, just where you have been?"
"No."
The answer was so prompt and so emphatic that Hatch was a little disconcerted. He cleared his throat and started over again.
"Will you inform me, then, in the interest of justice, where you were on the evening of the Randolph ball?" An ominous threat lay behind the words, Hatch hoped she believed.