“It is not true,” was the reply.
“We have information at headquarters,” continued Nick, “that you walked on to the Wisconsin in his wake, and returned to the café only after the cry that a murder had been committed had been raised in the hotel.”
“That is not true,” said Mantelle.
“You did not go to the Wisconsin that night?” asked the detective.
“I did not,” was the reply.
“When you left here, leaving Maynard to look up his friend, where did you go?”
“That is no affair of yours,” was the angry reply.
Nick was doing a lot of guessing in his talk with the fellow, but he seemed to be making points.
“Didn’t you go to the house of an African fortune teller on Houston Street?” asked the detective.
“It is a lie!” almost shouted Mantelle. “What does all this questioning mean? Am I accused of the murder of Townsend? If so, take me to some competent person for examination. I am sick of your amateur efforts.”