“Now, I do not believe a word of that story, for she has been weeping frequently. Confidence women do not shed tears—pickpockets do not act like that woman.”
“I shall venture no opinion, so far as I am concerned. George says that she has stolen a large sum of money from Napoleon, and that the boy helped her do it.”
“If that is true, why do they not arrest her at once?”
“They have not got sufficient proof to justify that course yet, though they think they will be able to do it very soon.”
“If I live a hundred years, I never will wear another mask, or associate with others who do. I am very sure that we would have enjoyed our excursion much better if we had not appeared in mask.”
“I agree with you there—these masquerades are only suited to furnish opportunities for thieves to ply their trades.”
“As soon as Ingomar finishes his story (and I hope he will not stop a moment until he is through with it), we will put an end to this nonsense.”
“I will go and request the queen to re-assemble her party at once, so that we may hear the remainder of the tale without further delay.”
“I wish you would.”
Ivanhoe then went to look for the queen, who issued her orders for the party to meet immediately. A majority of the passengers came up with Ingomar and the queen, as they were becoming deeply interested in the story. The maskers all being seated, the queen directed Ingomar to resume.