The man's effrontery amazed me, but I fathomed the depth of his malice and his proposed method. His defeat the night before had lulled his suspicions, but the look and manner of the prisoners had caused them to flame afresh. Now he hoped to expose us in the presence of our friends, and above all in the presence of Miss Desmond. Fortune seemed at last to have put all the chances in his favor.
"Oh, do let's go!" spoke up Miss Rankin, a young woman whose mind was not too important. "I have never been in a prison, and I should like to see how they live there."
"Believe me it is not a joyous sight, Miss Rankin," I said, hoping to keep the ladies away.
"Are you fully acquainted with it?" asked Belfort, in a low voice.
"Not as well, perhaps, as some others ought to be," I said in the same tone.
"Come, Miss Desmond, will you not go?" repeated Belfort. "It will be a valuable experience, one worth remembering."
Her eyes wandered over us, but I could not read the expression in them. They dwelt for a moment on Waters, as if wondering why a man of his condition was with us; and then she said that she would go, a flush of interest showing in her face. So we walked together toward the city prison, Belfort and Vivian escorting Miss Desmond, while the others devoted themselves to Miss Rankin. Marcel and I dropped a little behind.
"Phil," I said, "the gauntlet is nicely prepared for us."
"But we may run it," he replied cheerfully. "There's always a chance."