Phoebe gazed at the newcomer as if she were seeing a visitor from heaven. All the women in the gallery experienced enormous sensations of relief and Alberdina smiled down at him broadly.
“Mein lieber Gott, helb has gome already yet,” she exclaimed.
They hardly seemed to comprehend in their relief that one man had to deal with a dozen or more.
“Who are you?” demanded Lupo, roughly, coming to the top of the stairs.
“My name is Hook, at your service. May I ask if you are giving a performance of private theatricals? The scene is a good deal like a band of highwaymen attacking a number of helpless women.”
“We’re in the rights of the law,” put in the innkeeper.
“Why wear masks then?” asked Richard Hook.
There was no answer to this pointed question and three of the maskers slunk toward the door.
“We’ve come here to git two criminals hiding illegally in this here camp,” burst out Lupo.
“Have you a warrant for their arrest?”