During this relation of Mr. Mudge's, Cynthia had turned different colors, from livid purple to greenish pallor. And had several times been on the point of replying, but the lawyer-detective had continued his narrative in a sing-song, monotonous way, as though reading it from a written deposition, and had left her no opportunity for interrupting. He now turned to her and remarked:
"I repeat all this here, Miss Vaughn, in order to hear your side of the story."
"I have nothing to say," Cynthia replied sullenly.
"Then Miss Noakes's statement is substantially correct?"
"I don't understand what you are driving at." Cynthia flashed out passionately. "If you mean to insinuate that I threw the key out to some of the cadets, and helped disguise them, and gave them the signal when to join in the procession--why then all I have to say is that it is a very pretty story, but you will find it very hard to prove it."
"Not so hasty, not so hasty," replied Mr. Mudge. "My dear young lady, if you will reflect a moment, you will perceive that nothing of this kind has been charged against you. The question does not concern you at all, but this athletic young lady--Lawn Tennis."
Mr. Mudge had become so firmly convinced in his own mind that Polo's name was Lawn Tennis that we saw the futility of correcting him and gave up the attempt.
"Mr. Mudge," Winnie exclaimed, "we protest! Cynthia, I call upon you to own up. It wasn't such a very bad frolic. You meant no particular harm. We will all sign a petition to Madame asking her to let you off. Don't let Polo be unjustly suspected. You know you did it; own up to it like a man."
But Cynthia was in no mood to own up to anything like a man, or like a decent girl. She simply turned her nose several degrees higher and remained silent.
"Your cowardly silence will not shield you," Adelaide exclaimed scornfully. "I have some letters from my brother which make me very positive that this is one of your scrapes, and I will show them to Mr. Mudge unless you confess instantly."
"I have nothing to confess," Cynthia replied in a low voice, but the words seemed to stick in her throat.
Mr. Mudge next asked us, in a thoughtful manner, whether "Lawn Tennis" was connected with the institution at the time of the robbery. I replied that she was, but that I could not see any relation between that crime and the present escapade.