“What nonsense,” exclaimed Gaylor in alarm. “No detective would force his way into this house.”
“She says,” continued Mannie, disregarding Gaylor, and still addressing Vance, “he’s a seeker after the Truth. I’ll bet,” declared the boy violently, “he’s a seeker after the truth!”
Garrett came hastily and noiselessly into the room. He nodded toward Mannie.
“Has he told you?” he asked.
“Yes,” Gaylor answered, “who is he?”
“The reporter who was here this morning,” Garrett returned. “The one who threatened—”
“That’ll do,” commanded Gaylor. In the face of this new complication he again became himself. Suavely and politely he turned to Vance. “Will you and your friend join Miss Vera,” he asked, “and tell her that we begin in a few minutes?”
For the first time, aggressively and offensively Rainey broke his silence.
“No, we won’t begin in a few minutes,” he announced, “not by a damned sight!”
The explosion was so unexpected that, for an instant, while the eyes of all were fixed in astonishment upon the speaker, there was complete silence. Gaylor, still suave, still polite, looked toward Vance, and motioned him to the door.