What they told him could not be heard by Nick and Chick, but it was followed by a frightful explosion of oaths and curses from George Macrane.
So frantic, indeed, was this outburst, that Nick thought it proceeded from a craven fear of the result.
Touching Chick, and, bidding the officers to follow, Nick slipped across the street, closely approaching the three men before they were seen.
Laying his hand on the shoulder of Macrane, Nick said:
“George Macrane, you are my prisoner. I want you for the murder of Ethel Romney.”
The shock was so sudden that Macrane dropped to the pavement in a heap.
If the other two had been disposed to make a resistance they were too much astonished at the charge made against their employer to offer any.
They stared in open astonishment, and made no show of objecting when the officers took them in charge.
George Macrane soon recovered possession of himself, and, rising, said rather tremblingly, to be sure:
“You must be wild to charge me with that. Ethel Romney is in New York.”