“Are you the officer in charge of this raid?”
“Yes, madam. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Are you the blackguard who murdered those unfortunate boys at Drumcondra the other night?”
A cold shiver ran down my spine. Mrs. O’Grady, hovering in the shadows in the hall, withdrew to the basement. I heard the shuffle of her sandshoes.
“Will some one take the baby, please?”
Mrs. Fitzgerald, unconscious of the question or of the storm it raised, came out of the sitting-room.
“He ought to be asleep. Where’s Mrs. O’Grady? She could take him downstairs.”
I went down and took the baby, while Mrs. Slaney and the chief of Auxiliaries eyed each other.
“What reason have you for arresting this man in my house?” Mrs. Slaney demanded. “A perfectly innocent man.”
“Enough, madam.” Like Pharaoh, the man had hardened his heart. “Are you the owner of this house?”