The girl gave no least heed to the question.
“Oh, I'm so frightened!” she gasped.
“Tut, tut!” the Inspector chided. “Now, I tell you there's nothing at all for you to be afraid of.”
“I'm afraid!” the girl asserted dismally. “I'm afraid you will—put me—in a cell!” Her voice sank to a murmur hardly audible as she spoke the words so fraught with dread import to one of her refined sensibilities.
“Pooh!” Burke returned, gallantly. “Why, my dear young lady, nobody in the world could think of you and a cell at the same time—no, indeed!”
Instantly, the girl responded to this bald flattery. She fairly radiated appreciation of the compliment, as she turned her eyes, dewy with tears, on the somewhat flustered Inspector.
“Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed, with naive enjoyment.
Forthwith, Burke set out to make the most of this favorable opportunity.
“Are you sure you've told me all you know about this woman?” he questioned.
“Oh, yes! I've only seen her two or three times,” came the ready response. The voice changed to supplication, and again the clasped hands were extended beseechingly.