Instead of complying with his dictatorial order the detective stood his ground. Burnham, his face almost apoplectic in color, advanced threateningly and except for Maynard’s hasty step forward his raised fist would have struck Mitchell.
“Keep cool, Burnham,” he advised, and his voice brought the angry man to his senses. “Mitchell, there is no occasion for this excitement; Mrs. Van Ness and I were sitting here chatting and Mr. Burnham had just joined us. We have moved nothing in this room.”
Mitchell glanced searchingly about; apparently Maynard’s statement was correct; every piece of furniture, even the chess table, apparently stood in its accustomed place. He glanced apologetically at Marian, who had risen and stood with one hand on the back of her chair.
“It’s all right,” he admitted. “But as a precautionary measure the room will have to be sealed.”
Maynard, by an imperative gesture, stopped another explosion from Burnham. “What authority have you, Mitchell, for taking such a step?” he inquired.
“The coroner’s orders,” gruffly. “I’ll get him,” and Mitchell disappeared.
Burnham pounded the nearest table in his wrath. “Do you think I am going to take orders in my own house?” he demanded of Maynard. “Do you?” and his hand continued to punctuate the question.
“Take care, you’ll injure your chess table,” cautioned Maynard. “There is no use in bucking up against the police, Burnham; they are within their rights in asking to have this room set aside for further investigation. It was thoughtless of me to come in.”
“I think we had all better leave,” suggested Marian, who had listened to the argument between Burnham and the detective with a strained attention which had not escaped Maynard’s notice. “I stopped in here expecting to find Evelyn.”
“She is with Mrs. Ward,” grumbled Burnham—his temper was still ruffled. “Hello, what’s that commotion?” as the sound of raised voices reached them. “The police again—I’ll tell Mitchell what I think of him, the interfering idiot!” And taking a hasty step forward he swung his arm upward and back.