“Why, yes; something like that. But the thought did not have time to take form before the idea was entirely driven out of my head.”
“Of course not”
“You seem to take this thing quite seriously, Carter,” said Kane.
“Certainly, Max. Don’t you understand that, while the suggestion is not at all complimentary to the count, it still gives me rather a correct idea concerning Sparkle’s appearance, with the red costume eliminated; and I don’t suppose he wears that costume in private life.”
“I see. You mean that if you should meet somebody in the corridor of the Waldorf, for example, who reminded you of the count, you would immediately jump at the conclusion that he was the pirate chief, Sparkle, eh?”
“I don’t make it so emphatic as that, Max. What do you think of it, count?” asked Nick.
“Oh, wouldn’t I like to catch him, whoever he may be! Oh, wouldn’t I give him particular fits—that fellow who looks like me!” sang the count, in reply. And then he broke into a laugh.
“This is all really so ridiculous, don’t you know,” he said; “so absurd! And yet, Mr. Carter, there is enough truth about it to give it some interest, after all.”
“Now, Max, how much property did the fellow get away with?”