“Explain yourself, sir! What do you mean by my trade?”
“Oh, that of harboring child-stealing vagabonds and the like! This seems to have been your last occupation. But I am not here to bandy sharp words. My business is to find Mrs. Fordham. If you can direct me to the place where she now is, well; if not, I must arrest you, and you will be held in custody until she is produced,—perhaps longer.”
The woman’s face turned pale again.
At this moment the bell rung. Mrs. Weir stalled up and was moving toward the door.
“Excuse me, madam,” said the officer, laying his hand upon her arm; “but I will attend the door.”
And he drew her firmly back. She made a slight resistance, but the officer held her tightly for an instant.
“Take her in charge, if you please,” he said to Mr. Dainty, “while I see after this visitor.”
Mr. Dainty did not hesitate. Grasping her arm, he said, sternly,—
“Let us have no trifling! This business may cost you dear. Complicity in crime is no light matter, I can tell you.”
The officer was now at the street-door. As he opened it, a tall woman in black, answering in all respects to the description of Mrs. Fordham, stood ready to enter.