"Y--es," returned Alice, wishing she could have said "No."
"Did you notice the bracelet there, after he was gone?"
"I cannot say I did. I followed him from the room when he left, and then I went into the front-room, so that I had no opportunity of observing the bracelets."
"The doubt is solved," was the mental comment of the detective officer.
The colonel, hot and hasty, sent several servants various ways in search of Gerard Hope. He was speedily found, and brought; coming in with a smile on his frank, good-looking face.
"Take him into custody, officer," was the colonel's impetuous command.
"Hands off, Mr. Officer--if you are an officer," cried Gerard, in the first shock of the surprise, as he glanced at the gentlemanly appearance of the other, who wore plain clothes. "You shall not touch me, unless you can show legal authority. This is a shameful trick. Colonel--excuse me for speaking plainly--as I owe nothing to you, I do not see that you have any right, or power, to bring about my arrest."
The group would have made a fine study: especially Gerard, his head thrown back in defiance, and looking angrily at every one.
"I must do my duty," said the police-officer, approaching Gerard. "And for authority--you need not suppose I should act without it."
"Allow me to understand a little, first," remarked Gerard, haughtily eluding the officer. "What is it for? What is the sum total?"
"Two hundred and fifty pounds," growled the colonel. "But if you are thinking to compromise it in that way, young sir, you will find yourself mistaken."
"Oh, no fear," retorted Gerard; "I have not two hundred and fifty pence. Let me see: it must be Dobbs's. A hundred and sixty--how on earth do they slide the expenses up? I did it, sir, to oblige a friend."
"The deuce you did!" echoed the colonel, who understood nothing of the speech except the last sentence. "I never saw a cooler villain in all my experience!"
"He was awfully hard up," went on Gerard, "as much so as I am now; and I did it. I don't deny having done such things on my own account, but from this particular one I did not benefit a shilling."
His calm assurance, and his words, struck them with consternation. You see, he and they were at cross-purposes.
