The declaration, simple as it was, aroused the official to new indignation.
“Who says it can't?” he vociferated, overflowing with anger at this flouting of the authority he represented.
Mary opened a drawer of the desk, and took out the document obtained that morning from Harris, and held it forth.
“This,” she replied, succinctly.
“What's this?” Burke stormed. But he took the paper.
Demarest looked over the Inspector's shoulder, and his eyes grew larger as he read. When he was at an end of the reading, he regarded the passive woman at the desk with a new respect.
“What's this?” Burke repeated helplessly. It was not easy for him to interpret the legal phraseology. Mary was kind enough to make the document clear to him.
“It's a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, instructing you to let me alone until you have legal proof that I have broken the law.... Do you get that, Mr. Inspector Burke?”
The plethoric official stared hard at the injunction.
“Another new one,” he stuttered finally. Then his anger sought vent in violent assertion. “But it can't be done!” he shouted.