Anditsochancedthatatthisincriminatingcrisisfortheson，thefatherhastilystrodewithinthelibrary。HehadbeenarousedbytheInspector\'sshouting，andwasevidentlygreatlyperturbed。Hisusualdignifiedairwasmarredbyapatentalarm。
\"What\'sallthis？\"heexclaimed，ashehaltedandstareddoubtfullyonthescenebeforehim。
Burke，inamomentlikethis，wasnorespecterofpersons，forallhisjudiciousattentionsonotheroccasionstothosewhoseinfluencemightservehimwellforbenefitsreceived。
\"Youcanseeforyourself，\"hesaidgrimlytothedumfoundedmagnate。Then，hefixedsinistereyesontheson。\"So，\"hewenton，withsombermenaceinhisvoice，\"youdidit，youngman。\"Henoddedtowardthedetective。\"Well，Cassidy，youcantake\'embothdown-town……That\'sall。\"
ThecommandarousedDicktoremonstranceagainstsuchindignitytowardthewomanwhomheloved。
\"Nother!\"hecried，imploringly。\"Youdon\'twanther，Inspector!Thisisallwrong!\"
Now，atlast，Maryinterposedwithanewspirit。Shehadregained，insomemeasureatleast，herpoise。Shewasspeakingagainwiththatmentalclaritywhichwasdistinctiveinher。
\"Dick，\"sheadvisedquietly，butwithunderlyingurgencyinhergentlyspokenwords，\"don\'ttalk，please。\"
Burkelaughedharshly。
\"Whatdoyouexpect？\"heinquiredtruculently。\"Asamatteroffact，thething\'ssimpleenough，youngman。EitheryoukilledGriggs，orshedid。\"
TheInspector，withhischarge，madeacarelessgesturetowardthecorpseofthemurderedstool-pigeon。Forthefirsttime，EdwardGilder，ashisglanceunconsciouslyfollowedtheofficer\'smovement，lookedandsawtheghastlyinanimateheapoffleshandbonethathadoncebeenaman。Hefairlyreeledatthegruesomespectacle，thenfumbledwithanoutstretchedhandashemovedstumblinglyuntilhelaidholdonachair，intowhichhesankhelplessly。Itsuddenlysmoteuponhisconsciousnessthathefeltveryoldandbroken。Hemarveleddullyoverthesensation——itwaswhollynewtohim。Then，soon，fromalongwayoff，heheardthestridentvoiceoftheInspectorremorselesslycontinuinginthevile，theimpossibleaccusation……Andthatgrotesqueaccusationwashurledagainsthisonlyson——theboywhomhesoloved。Thethingwasmonstrous，athingincredible。
Thiswholeseemingwasnomorethanachimeraofthenight，aphantomofbaddreams，withnotruthunderit……Yet，thesternvoiceoftheofficialcamewithastrangesemblanceofreality。
\"Eitheryoukilledhim，\"thevoicerepeatedgratingly，\"orshedid。Well，then，youngman，didshekillhim？\"
\"GoodGod，no!\"Dickshouted，aghast。
\"Then，itwasyou!\"SuchwastheInspector\'ssummaryofthecase。
Mary\'swordscamefrantically。Onceagain，shewasbecomedesperateoverthecourseofeventsinthisnightoffearfulhappenings。
\"No，no!Hedidn\'t!\"
Burke\'sraspingvoicereiteratedtheaccusationwithacertaincomplacencyintheinevitabilityofthedilemma。
\"OneofyoukilledGriggs。Whichoneofyoudidit？\"HescowledatDick。\"Didshekillhim？\"
Again，thehusband\'scrycamewiththefiercenessofdespairoverthefateofthewoman。
\"Itoldyou，no!\"
TheInspector，alwayssavagelyimpressivenowinvoiceandlookandgesture，facedthegirlwithsaturninepersistence。
\"Well，then，\"heblustered，\"didhekillhim？\"
ThenodofhisheadwastowardDick。Then，assheremainedsilent:\"I\'mtalkingtoyou!\"hesnapped。\"Didhekillhim？\"
Thereplycamewithasoftdistinctnessthatwaslikeacrashofdestiny。
\"Yes。\"
Dickturnedtohiswifeinreproachfulamazement。
\"Mary!\"hecried，incredulously。Thisbetrayalwassomethinginconceivablefromher，sincehebelievedthatnowatlastheknewherheart。
Burke，however，asusual，paidnoheedtothenicetiesofsentiment。Theyhadsmallplaceinhisconcernsasanofficialofpolice。Hissoleambitionjustnowwastofixthecrimedefinitelyontheperpetrator。
\"You\'llswearhekilledhim？\"heasked，briskly，wellcontentwiththisconcreteresultoftheentanglement。
Marysubtlyevadedthequestion，whileseemingtogiveunqualifiedassent。
\"Whynot？\"sherespondedlistlessly。
Atthisintolerableassertionashedeemedit，EdwardGilderwasreanimated。Hesatrigidlyerectinhis，chair。Inthatfrightfulmoment，itcametohimanewthatherewasinveritythelastdetailinaconsummateschemebythiswomanforrevengeagainsthimself。
\"God!\"hecried，despairingly。\"Andthat\'syourvengeance!\"
Maryheard，andunderstood。Therecameaninscrutablesmileonhercurvinglips，buttherewasnosatisfactioninthatsmile，asofonewhorealizedthefruitionoflong-cherishedschemesofretribution。Instead，therewasonlyaninfinitesadness，whileshespokeverygently。
\"Idon\'twantvengeance——now!\"shesaid。
\"Butthey\'lltrymyboyformurder，\"themagnateremonstrated，distraught。
\"Oh，no，theycan\'t!\"cametherejoinder。Andnow，onceagain，therewasahintofthequizzicalcreepinginthesmile。\"No，theycan\'t!\"sherepeatedfirmly，andtherewasprofoundreliefinhertonessinceatlastheringenuityhadfoundawayoutofthisoutrageoussituationthrustonherandonherhusband。
Burkeglaredatthespeakerinaragethatwasabruptlygrownsuspiciousinsomevagueway。
\"What\'sthereasonwecan\'t？\"hestormed。
Marysprangtoherfeet。Shewasradiantwithanewserenity，nowthatherquick-wittednesshaddiscoveredamethodforbafflingthemeshofevidencethathadbeenwovenaboutherandDickthroughnofaultoftheirown。Hereyeswereglowingwithevenmorethantheirusuallusters。Hervoicecamesoftlymodulated，almostmocking。
\"Becauseyoucouldn\'tconvicthim，\"shesaidsuccinctly。A
contentedsmilebenttheredgracesofherlips。
Burkesneeredanindignationthatwas，nevertheless，somewhatfearfulofwhatmightliebehindthewoman\'sassurance。
\"What\'sthereason？\"hedemanded，scornfully。\"There\'sthebody。\"Hepointedtotherigidformofthedeadman，lyingtheresoverynearthem。\"Andthegunwasfoundonhim。Andthen，you\'rewillingtoswearthathekilledhim……Well，Iguesswe\'llconvicthim，allright。Whynot？\"
Mary\'sanswerwasgivenquietly，but，nonetheless，withanassurancethatcouldnotbegainsaid。
\"Because，\"shesaid，\"myhusbandmerelykilledaburglar。\"Inherturn，shepointedtowardthebodyofthedeadman。\"Thatman，\"shecontinuedevenly，\"wastheburglar。Youknowthat!Myhusbandshothimindefenseofhishome!\"Therewasabriefsilence。Then，sheadded，withawonderfulmildnessinthemusicofhervoice。\"Andso，Inspector，asyouknowofcourse，hewaswithinthelaw!\"
CHAPTERXX。WHOSHOTGRIGGS？
Inhisofficenextmorning，InspectorBurkewasfumingoverthefailureofhisconspiracy。Hehadhopedthroughthisplottovindicatehisauthority，sosadlyflauntedbyGarsonandMaryTurner。Insteadofthismuch-to-be-desiredresultfromhisscheming，theoutcomehadbeennothinglessthandisastrous。Theonecertainfactwasthathismostvaluableallyinhiswarfareagainstthecriminalsofthecityhadbeendonetodeath。SomeonehadmurderedGriggs，thestool-pigeon。WhereBurkehadmeanttoserveamanofhighinfluence，EdwardGilder，byrailroadingthebrideofthemagnate\'ssontoprison，hehadsucceededonlyinmakingthetroubleofthatmerchantprincevastlyworseintheendingoftheaffairbyarrestingthesonforthecapitalcrimeofmurder。Thesituationwas，inverytruth，intolerable。Morethanever，Burkegrewhotwithintenttoovercomethewomanwhohadsopersistentlyoutragedhisauthoritybyheringeniousdevicesagainstthelaw。Anyhow，themurderofGriggscouldnotgounpunished。Theslayer\'sidentitymustbedetermined，andthereaftertheduepenaltyofthelawinflicted，whoevertheguiltypersonmightprovetobe。Tothediscoveryofthisidentity，theInspectorwasatthepresentmomentdevotinghimselfbyadroitquestioningofDaceyandChicagoRed，whohadbeenarrestedinoneoftheiraccustomedhauntsbyhismenashorttimebefore。
Thepolicemanondutyatthedoorwastheonlyotherpersonintheroom，andinconsequenceBurkepermittedhimself，quiteunashamed，toemploythosemethodsofpersuasionwhichhaverisentoahighdegreeofadmirationinpolicecircles。
\"Comeacrossnow!\"headmonished。HisvoicerolledforthlikethatofabullofBashan。Hewasonhisfeet，facingthetwothieves。Hisheadwasthrustforwardmenacingly，andhiseyesweresavage。Thetwomenshrankbeforehim——bothinnaturalfear，and，too，inafurtivepolicyoftheirown。Thiswasnooccasionforthemtoassertapersonalprideagainstthemanwhohadtheminhistoils。
\"Idon\'tknownothin\'!\"ChicagoRed\'svoicewasbetweenasnarlandawhine。\"Ain\'tIbeentellingyouthatforoveranhour？\"
Burkevouchsafednoanswerinspeech，butwithanimblenesssurprisinginoneofhisbulk，gaveDacey，whochancedtobethenearerofthetwo，ashovethatsentthefellowstaggeringhalf-wayacrosstheroomunderitsimpetus。
Withthisbywayofappreciableintroductiontohisseriousnessofpurpose，Burkeputaquestion:
\"Dacey，howlonghaveyoubeenout？\"
Theanswercameinasibilantwhisperofdread。
\"Aweek。\"
Burkepushedtheimplicationbrutally。
\"Wanttogobackforanotherstretch？\"TheInspector\'svoicewasfreightedwithsuggestionsofdisasterstocome，whichwerewellunderstoodbythecringingwretchbeforehim。
Thethiefshuddered，andhisface，alreadypallidfromtheprisonlackofsunlightlikesomenoxiousgrowthofacellar，becamelivid。Hiswordscameinamuffledmoanoffear。
\"God，no!\"
Burkeleftalittleintervalofsilencetheninwhichthethievesmighttrembleovertheprospectsuggestedbyhiswords，butalwayshemaintainedhissteady，relentlessglareonthecowedcreatures。Itwasafamiliarwarfarewithhim。Yet，inthisinstance，hewasdestinedtofailure，forthemenwereofatypedifferentfromthatofEnglishEddie，whowaslyingdeadasthemeetrewardfortreacherytohisfellows……When，atlast，hisquestionissuedfromtheclose-shutlips，itcamelikethecrackofagun。
\"WhoshotGriggs？\"
Thereplywasachorusfromthetwo:
\"Idon\'tknow——honest，Idon\'t!\"
Inhiseagerness，ChicagoRedmovedtowardhisquestioner——unwisely。
\"HonesttoGawd，Idon\'tknownothin\'aboutit!\"
TheInspector\'sfistshotouttowardChicagoRed\'sjaw。Theimpactwasenough。Thethiefwenttohiskneesundertheblow。
\"Now，getup——andtalk!\"Burke\'svoicecamewithunrepentantnoisinessagainstthestrickenman。
Cringingly，ChicagoRed，whosogloriedinhisstrength，yetwasnowaltogetherhumbleinthisprecariouscase，obeyedasfarasthegettingtohisfeetwasconcerned……Itneveroccurredtohimeventhatheshouldcarryhisobediencetothepointof\"squealingonapal!\"Hadthecircumstancesbeendifferent，hemighthaverefusedtoaccepttheInspector\'sblowwithsuchmeekness，sinceaboveallthingshelovedabitofbodilystrifewithsomeonenearhisownstrength，andtheInspectorwasofasorttoofferhimabattleworthwhile。
So，now，whilehegotslowlytohisfeet，hetookcaretokeepatarespectfuldistancefromtheofficial，thoughhisbighandsfairlyachedtodoubleintofistsforblowswiththismanwhohadsomaltreatedhim。
Hisownself-respect，ofitspeculiarsort，wassavedbytheinterferenceofCassidy，whoenteredtheInspector\'sofficetoannouncethearrivaloftheDistrictAttorney。
\"Send\'imin，\"Burkedirectedatonce。Hemadeagesturetowardthedoorman，andadded:\"Take\'emback!\"
Agrinofevilhumorwrithedthelipsofthepoliceofficial，andheaddedtotheattentivedoormanawordofdirectionthatmightwellbeinterpretedbythemalevolentexpressiononhisface。
\"Don\'tberoughwith\'em，Dan，\"hesaid。Foronce，hisdominatingvoicewasreducedtosomethingapproachingsoftness，inhissardonicappreciationofhisownhumorintheconceptionofwhatthesetwomen，whohadventuredtoresisthisimportunities，mightreceiveatthehandsofhisfaithfulsatellites……Thedoormangrinnedappreciatively，andherdedhisvictimsfromtheplace。Andthetwowentshamblinglyinsureknowledgeofthethingsthatwereinstore。Yet，withoutthoughtoftreachery。Theywouldnot\"squeal\"!AlltheywouldtellofthedeathofEddieGriggswouldbe:\"Hegotwhatwascomingtohim!\"
TheInspectordroppedintohisswivelchairatthedeskwhilstheawaitedthearrivalofDemarest，theDistrictAttorney。Thegreetingsbetweenthetwowerecordialwhenatlastthepublicprosecutormadehisappearance。
\"IcameassoonasIgotyourmessage，\"theDistrictAttorneysaid，asheseatedhimselfinachairbythedesk。\"AndI\'vesentwordtoMr。Gilder……Now，then，Burke，let\'shavethisthingquickly。\"
TheInspector\'sexplanationwasconcise:
\"JoeGarson，ChicagoRed，andDacey，alongwithGriggs，brokeintoEdwardGilder\'shouse，lastnight!Iknewthetrickwasgoingtobepulledoff，andsoIplantedCassidyandacoupleofothermenjustoutsidetheroomwherethehaulwastobemade。
Then，Iwentaway，andaftersomethinglikehalfanhourIcamebacktomakethearrestsmyself。\"AlookofintensedisgustspreaditselfovertheInspector\'smassiveface。\"Well，\"heconcludedsheepishly，\"whenIbrokeintotheroomIfoundyoungGilderalongwiththatTurnerwomanhemarried，andtheywerejusttalkingtogether。\"
\"Notraceoftheothers？\"Demarestquestionedcrisply。
Attheinquiry，Burke\'sfacecrimsonedangrily，thenagainsetingrimlines。
\"IfoundGriggslyingonthefloor——dead!\"Onceagainthedisgustshowedinhisexpression。\"TheTurnerwomansaysyoungGildershotGriggsbecausehebrokeintothehouse。Ain\'tthatthelimit？\"
\"Whatdoestheboysay？\"theDistrictAttorneydemanded。
Burkeshookhisheaddispiritedly。
\"Nothing，\"heanswered。\"Shetoldhimnottotalk，andso，ofcourse，hewon\'t，he\'ssuchafooloverher。\"
\"Andwhatdoesshesay？\"Demarestasked。HefoundhimselfratheramusedbytheexceedingchagrinoftheInspectoroverthisaffair。
Burke\'svoicegrewsavageashesnappedareply。
\"Refusestotalktillsheseesalawyer。Butatouchofcheerfulnessappearedinhistonesasheproceeded。\"We\'vegotChicagoRedandDacey，andwe\'llhaveGarsonbeforetheday\'sover。And，oh，yes，they\'vepickedupayounggirlattheTurnerwoman\'splace。Andwe\'vegotonerealclue——foronce!\"Thespeaker\'sexpressionwassuddenlytriumphant。Heopenedadrawerofthedesk，andtookoutGarson\'spistol，towhichthesilencerwasstillattached。
\"Youneversawagunlikethatbefore，eh？\"heexclaimed。
Demarestadmittedthefactafteracuriousexamination。
\"I\'llbetyouneverdid!\"Burkecried，withsatisfaction。\"ThatthingontheendisaMaximsilencer。Therearethousandsoftheminuseonrifles，butthey\'veneverbeenabletousethemonrevolversbefore。Thisisaspeciallymadegun，\"hewentonadmiringly，ashetookitbackandslippeditintoapocketofhiscoat。\"Thatthingisabsolutelynoiseless。I\'vetriedit。
Well，yousee，it\'llbeaneasything——easiestthingintheworld!——totracethatsilencerattachment。Cassidy\'sworkingonthatendofthethingnow。\"
Forafewminuteslonger，thetwomendiscussedthedetailsofthecrime，theorizingoverthebafflingevent。Then，presently，Cassidyenteredtheoffice，andmadereportofhisinvestigationsconcerningthepistolwiththesilencerattachment。
\"IgotthefactoryatHartfordonthewire，\"heexplained，\"andtheygavemeMr。Maximhimself，theinventorofthesilencer。Hesaidthiswassurelyaspecialgun，whichwasmadefortheuseofHenrySylvester，oneoftheprofessorsatYale。Hewanteditfordemonstrationpurposes。Mr。Maximsaidthethingshaveneverbeenputonthemarket，andthattheyneverwillbe。\"
\"Forhumanereasons，\"Demarestcommented，noddingapprobation。
\"Goodthing，too!\"Burkeconceded。\"They\'dmakemurdertoodevilisheasy，andit\'seasyenoughnow……Well，Cassidy？\"
\"Igotholdofthisman，Sylvester，\"Cassidywenton。\"Ihadhimonthe\'phone，too。Hesaysthathishousewasrobbedabouteightweeksago，andamongotherthingsthesilencerwasstolen。\"
Cassidypaused，andchuckleddrily。\"HeaddsthestartlinginformationthattheNewHavenpolicehavenotbeenabletorecoveranyofthestolenproperty。Themrubecopsareimmense!\"
Demarestsmiledslyly，asthedetective，atanodfromhissuperior，wenttowardthedoor。
\"No，\"hesaid，maliciously；\"onlytheNewYorkpolicerecoverstolengoods。\"
\"Good-night!\"quothCassidy，turningatthedoor，inadmissionofhisdiscomfitureoverthethrust，whileBurkehimselfgrinnedwrylyinappreciationofthegibe。
Demarestgrewgraveagain，asheputthequestionthatwastroublinghimmost。
\"IsthereanychancethatyoungGilderdidshootGriggs？\"
\"Youcansearchme!\"theInspectoranswered，disconsolately。\"MymenwerejustoutsidethedooroftheroomwhereEddieGriggswasshottodeath，andnoneof\'emheardasound。It\'sthatinfernalsilencerthing。Ofcourse，Iknowthatallthegangwasinthehouse。\"
\"Buttellmejusthowyouknowthatfact，\"Demarestobjectedverycrisply。\"Didyouseethemgoin？\"
\"No，Ididn\'t，\"theInspectoradmitted，tartly。\"ButGriggs——\"
Demarestpermittedhimselfasneerbornoflegalknowledge。
\"Griggsisdead，Burke。You\'reupagainstit。Youcan\'tprovethatGarson，orChicagoRed，orDacey，everenteredthathouse。\"
TheInspectorscowledoverthispositivestatement。
\"ButGriggssaidtheyweregoingto，\"heargued。
\"Iknow，\"Demarestagreed，withanexasperatingairofshrewdness；\"butGriggsisdead。Yousee，Burke，youcouldn\'tinatrialevenrepeatwhathetoldyou。It\'snotpermissibleevidence。\"
\"Oh，thelaw!\"theInspectorsnorted，withmuchcholer。\"Well，then，\"hewentonbelligerently，\"I\'llchargeyoungGilderwithmurder，andcalltheTurnerwomanasawitness。\"
TheDistrictAttorneylaughedaloudoverthisproject。
\"Youcan\'tquestionheronthewitness-stand，\"heexplainedpatronizinglytothebadgeredpoliceofficial。\"Thelawdoesn\'tallowyoutomakeawifetestifyagainstherhusband。And，what\'smore，youcan\'tarresther，andthenforcehertogointothewitness-stand，either。No，Burke，\"heconcludedemphatically，\"youronlychanceofgettingthemurdererofGriggsisbyaconfession。\"
\"Then，I\'llchargethembothwiththemurder，\"theInspectorgrowledvindictively。\"And，byGod，they\'llbothgototrialunlesssomebodycomesthrough。\"Hebroughthishugefistdownonthedeskwithviolence，andhisvoicewasforbidding。\"Ifit\'smylastactonearth，\"hedeclared，\"I\'mgoingtogetthemanwhoshotEddieGriggs。\"
Demarestwasseriouslydisturbedbythesituationthathaddeveloped。HewasundergreatpersonalobligationstoEdwardGilder，whoseinfluenceinfacthadbeentheprimecauseofhissuccessinattainingtotheimportantofficialpositionhenowheld，andhewouldhavegonefartoservethemagnateinanydifficultythatmightarise。Hehadbeenperfectlywillingtoemployalltheresourcesofhisofficetorelievethesonfromtheentanglementwithawomanofunsavorynotoriety。Now，thankstothemiscarriedplottingofBurketothelikeend，whatbeforehadbeenmerelyaviciousstateofaffairswasbecomeoneoftheutmostdreadfulness。TheworstofcrimeshadbeencommittedinthehouseofEdwardGilderhimself，andhissonacknowledgedhimselfasthemurderer。
TheDistrictAttorneyfeltagenuinesorrowinthinkingoftheanguishthiseventmusthavebroughtonthefather。Hehad，aswell，sympathyenoughfortheson。Hisacquaintancewiththeyoungmanconvincedhimthattheboyhadnotdonethedeedofbloodyviolence。Inthatfactwasaminglingofcomfortandofanxiety。Ithadbeenbetter，doubtless，ifindeedDickhadshotGriggs，hadindictedajustpenaltyonahousebreaker。ButtheDistrictAttorneywasnotinclinedtocredittheconfession。Burke\'saccountoftheplotinwhichthestool-pigeonhadbeentheagentofferedtoomanycomplications。Altogether，theaspectofthecaseservedtoindicatethatDickcouldnothavebeentheslayer……Demarestshookhisheaddejectedly。
\"Burke，\"hesaid，\"Iwanttheboytogofree。Idon\'tbelieveforaminutethatDickGildereverkilledthispetstool-pigeonofyours。And，so，youmustunderstandthis:Iwanthimtogofree，ofcourse。\"
Burkefrownedrefusalatthissuggestion。Herewasamatterinwhichhisrightsmustnotbeinvaded。He，too，wouldhavegonefartoserveamanofEdwardGilder\'sstanding，butinthisinstancehisprofessionalpridewasinrevolt。Hehadbeendefied，trapped，madeavictimofthegangwhohadkilledhismostvaluedinformer。
\"Theyoungster\'llgofreewhenhetellswhatheknows，\"hesaidangrily，\"andnotaminutebefore。\"Hisexpressionlightenedalittle。\"Perhapstheoldgentlemancanmakehimtalk。Ican\'t。
He\'sunderthatwoman\'sthumb，ofcourse，andshe\'stoldhimhemustn\'tsayaword。So，hedon\'t。\"Agrinofhalf-embarrassedappreciationmovedtheheavyjawsasheglancedattheDistrictAttorney。\"Yousee，\"heexplained，\"Ican\'tmakehimtalk，butI
mightifcircumstancesweredifferent。Onaccountofhisbeingtheoldman\'sson，I\'malittlecrampedinmystyle。\"
Itwas，intruth，onethingtobrowbeatandassaultaconvictlikeDaceyorChicagoRed，butquiteanothertoemploythelikeviolenceagainstayouthofDickGilder\'spositionintheworld。
Demarestunderstoodperfectly，buthewasinclinedtobescepticalovertheInspector\'stheorythatDickpossessedactualcognizanceastothekillingofGriggs。
\"YouthinkthatyoungGilderreallyknows？\"hequestioned，doubtfully。
\"Idon\'tthinkanything——yet!\"Burkeretorted。\"AllIknowisthis:EddieGriggs，themostvaluablecrookthateverworkedforme，hasbeenmurdered。\"Theofficial\'svoicewaschargedwiththreateningashewenton。\"Andsomeone，manorwoman，isgoingtopayforit!\"
\"Woman？\"Demarestrepeated，insomeastonishment。
Burke\'svoicecamemerciless。
\"Imean，MaryTurner，\"hesaidslowly。
Demarestwasshocked。
\"But，Burke，\"heexpostulated，\"she\'snotthatsort。\"TheInspectorsneeredopenly。
\"Howdoyouknowsheain\'t？\"hedemanded。\"Well，anyhow，she\'smadeamonkeyoutofthePoliceDepartment，and，first，last，andallthetime，I\'macopper……Andthatremindsme，\"hewentonwitharesumptionofhisusualcurtbluntness，\"IwantyoutowaitforMr。Gilderoutside，whileIgetbusywiththegirlthey\'vebroughtdownfromMaryTurner\'sflat。\"
CHAPTERXXI。AGGIEATBAY。
Burke，afterthelawyerhadlefthim，watchedthedoorexpectantlyforthecomingofthegirl，whomhehadorderedbroughtbeforehim。But，whenatlastDanappeared，andstoodasidetopermitherpassingintotheoffice，theInspectorgaspedattheunexpectednessofthevision。Hehadanticipatedthecomingofawomanofthatworldwithwhichhewasmostfamiliarintheexerciseofhisprofessionalduties——theunderworldofcriminals，someonebeautifulperhaps，butwiththebrandofviciousnessmarkedsubtly，yetvisiblyforthetrainedeyetosee。Then，eveninthatfirstmoment，hetoldhimselfthatheshouldhavebeenpreparedfortheunusualinthisinstance，sincethegirlhadtodowithMaryTurner，andthatdisturbingpersonherselfshowedinfaceandformandmannernothingtosuggestaughtbutagentlewoman。And，inthenextinstant，theInspectorforgothissurpriseinasincere，almostardentadmiration。
Thegirlwasrathershort，butofaslendereleganceofformthatwasravishing。Shewasgowned，too，withachicnicetytoarousetheenvyofallless-fortunatewomen。Hercostumehadaboutitanindubitableair，afinalityofperfectioninitskind。Onanother，itmighthaveappearedperhapsthemeresttriflegarish。
Butthatfault，ifinfactiteverexisted，wasmadeintoavirtuebythecorrectinginnocenceofthegirl\'sface。Itwasachildishface，childishintheexquisitesmoothnessofthesoft，pinkskin，childishinthewonderingstareoftheblueeyes，nowsowidelyopenedindismay，childishinthewistfuldroopingoftherosebudmouth。
Thegirladvancedslowly，withalaggardhesitationinhermovementsobviouslyfromfear。Sheapproachedthedesk，frombehindwhichtheInspectorwatched，fascinatedbythefreshandwholesomebeautyofthisyoungcreature。Hefailedtoobservetheunderlyingangerbeneaththegirl\'soutwarddisplayofalarm。
Heshookoffhisfirstimpressionbymeansofaresorttohiscustomaryblusterinsuchcases。
\"Now，then，mygirl，\"hesaidroughly，\"Iwanttoknow——\"
Therecameachange，wroughtinthetwinklingofaneye。Thetiny，trimlyshodfootofthegirlroseandfellinawrathfulstamp。
\"Howdareyou!\"Theclearblueeyeswerebecomedarkenedwithanger。Therewasadeepenedleafofredineithercheek。Thedroopinglipsdroopednolonger，butwerebenttoahaughtinessthatwasfinelyimpressive。
Beforetheoffendedindignationoftheyoungwoman，Burkesatbewilderedbyembarrassmentforonceinhislife，andquiteataloss。
\"What\'sthat？\"hesaid，dubiously。
Thegirlexplainedthematterexplicitlyenough。
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythisoutrage？\"shestormed。Hervoicewaslowandrich，withacharmingroundnessthatseemedtheveryhallmarkofgentility。But，now，itwassurchargedwithanindignantamazementovertheindignityputuponherbytherepresentativesofthelaw。Then，abruptly，theblueeyesweresoftenedintheirfires，asbythesuddennearnessoftears。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"thegirlrepeated。Herslimformwastensewithwrath。\"Idemandmyinstantrelease。\"Therewasindescribablerebukeinherslowemphasisofthewords。
Burkewasimpressedinspiteofhimself，inspiteofhisaccustomedcoldindifferencetothefeelingsofothersasnecessitycompelledhimtomakeinvestigationofthem。Hisharsh，blusteringvoicesoftenedperceptibly，andhespokeinawheedlingtone，suchasonemightemployintheefforttotranquillizeaspoiledchildinafitoftemper。
\"Waitaminute，\"heremonstrated。\"Waitaminute!\"Hemadeapacificallycourteousgesturetowardoneofthechairs，whichstoodbyanendofthedesk。\"Sitdown，\"heinvited，withanefforttowardcajoling。
Thescornofthegirlwassuperb。Hervoicecameicily，assheanswered:
\"Ishalldonothingofthesort。Sitdown，indeed!——here!Why，I
havebeenarrested——\"Therecameabreakinthemusicofhertonesthrobbingresentment。Alittlesobcreptin，andbrokethesequenceofwords。Thedaintyfacewasvividwithshame。\"I——\"
shefaltered，\"I\'vebeenarrested——byacommonpoliceman!\"
TheInspectorseizedontheoneflawlefthimfordefenseagainstherindictment。
\"No，no，miss，\"heargued，earnestly。\"Excuseme。Itwasn\'tanycommonpoliceman——itwasadetectivesergeant。\"
Buthisefforttoplacatewasquiteinvain。Theingenuouslittlebeautywiththechild\'sfaceandtheblueeyessowidelyopenedfairlypantedinherrevoltagainsttheignominyofherposition，andwasnottobesoeasilyappeased。Hervoicecamevibrantwithdisdain。HerlevelgazeontheInspectorwasofasorttosuggesttohimanxietiesoverpossiblecomplicationshere。
\"Youwait!\"shecriedviolently。\"Youjustwait，Itellyou，untilmypapahearsofthis!\"
Burkeregardedthefuriousgirldoubtfully。
\"Whoisyourpapa？\"heasked，withabitofalarmstirringinhisbreast，forhehadnomindtooffendanyoneofimportancewheretherewasnoneed。
\"Isha\'n\'ttellyou，\"camethepetulantretortfromthegirl。
Herivoryforeheadwaswrinkledcharminglyinalittlefrownofobstinacy。\"Why，\"shewenton，displayingnewsymptomsofdistressoveranotherappallingideathatflashedonherinthismoment，\"youwouldprobablygivemynametothereporters。\"Onceagaintherosebudmouthdroopedintocurvesofsorrow，ofagreatself-pity。\"Ifitevergotintothenewspapers，myfamilywoulddieofshame!\"
Thepathosofherfearpiercedthroughthehardenedcrustofthepoliceofficial。Hespokeapologetically。
\"Now，theeasiestwayoutforbothofus，\"hesuggested，\"isforyoutotellmejustwhoyouare。Yousee，younglady，youwerefoundinthehouseofanotoriouscrook。\"
Thehaughtinessofthegirlwaxed。ItseemedasifshegrewaninchtallerinherscornoftheInspector\'ssaying。
\"Howperfectlyabsurd!\"sheexclaimed，scathingly。\"IwascallingonMissMaryTurner!\"
\"Howdidyoucometomeether，anyhow？\"Burkeinquired。Hestillheldhisbigvoicetoasoftermodulationthanthattowhichitwashabituated。
Yet，thedisdainofthegirlseemedonlytoincreasemomently。
Sheshowedplainlythatsheregardedthisbrass-buttonedofficialasoneunbearablyinsolentinhisdemeanortowardher。
Nevertheless，shecondescendedtoreply，withanexaggerationofthearistocraticdrawltoindicateherdispleasure。
\"IwasintroducedtoMissTurner，\"sheexplained，\"byMr。RichardGilder。Perhapsyouhaveheardofhisfather，theowneroftheEmporium。\"
\"Oh，yes，I\'veheardofhisfather，andofhim，too，\"Burkeadmitted，placatingly。
Butthegirlrelaxednotawhitinherattitudeofoffense。
\"Then，\"shewentonseverely，\"youmustseeatoncethatyouareentirelymistakeninthismatter。\"HerblueeyeswidenedfurtherasshestaredaccusinglyattheInspector，whobetrayedevidencesofperplexity，andhesitatedforananswer。Then，thedoll-like，charmingfacetookonasofterlook，whichhadinitasuggestionofappeal。
\"Don\'tyouseeit？\"shedemanded。
\"Well，no，\"Burkerejoineduneasily；\"notexactly，Idon\'t!\"Inthepresenceofthisdelicateandgracefulfemininity，heexperiencedasudden，noveldistasteforhisusualsledge-hammermethodsofattackininterrogation。Yet，hisdutyrequiredthatheshouldcontinuehisquestioning。Hefoundhimselfinfactbetweenthedevilandthedeepsea——thoughthisparticulardevilappearedratherasanangeloflight。
Now，athissomewhatfeebleremarkinreplytoherquery，thechildishfacegrewashardasitscurvingcontourswouldpermit。
\"Sir!\"shecriedindignantly。Herlittleheadwasthrownbackinscornfulreproof，andsheturnedashouldertowardtheofficialcontemptuously。
\"Now，now!\"Burkeexclaimedinremonstrance。Afterall，hecouldnotbebrutalwiththisguilelessmaiden。Hemust，however，makethesituationcleartoher，lestshethinkhimabeast——whichwouldneverdo!
\"Yousee，younglady，\"hewentonwithagentlenessofvoiceandmannerthatwouldhavebeeninconceivabletoDaceyandChicagoRed；\"yousee，thefactisthat，evenifyouwereintroducedtothisMaryTurnerbyyoungMr。Gilder，thissameMaryTurnerherselfisanex-convict，andshe\'sjustbeenarrestedformurder。\"
Atthedreadword，astartlingchangewaswroughtinthegirl。
ShewheeledtofacetheInspector，herslenderbodyswayingalittletowardhim。Theratherheavybrowswereliftedslightlyinadisbelievingstare。Theredlipswereparted，roundedtoatremuloushorror。
\"Murder!\"shegasped；andthenwassilent。
\"Yes，\"Burkewenton，whollyateasenow，sincehehadbrokentheicethuseffectually。\"Yousee，ifthere\'samistakeaboutyou，youdon\'twantittogoanyfurther——notamitefurther，that\'ssure。So，yousee，now，that\'soneofthereasonswhyImustknowjustwhoyouare。\"Then，inhisturn，Burkeputthequerythatthegirlhadputtohimalittlewhilebefore。\"Youseethat，don\'tyou？\"
\"Oh，yes，yes!\"wastheinstantagreement。\"Youshouldhavetoldmeallaboutthishorridthinginthefirstplace。\"Now，thegirl\'smannerwastransformed。ShesmiledwistfullyontheInspector，andtheglanceoftheblueeyeswasverykind，subtlyalluring。Yetinthisunbending，thereappearedevenmoredecisivelythanhithertothefinequalitiesinbearingofonedelicatelynurtured。Shesankdowninachairbythedesk，andforthwithspokewithasimplicitythatinitselfwassomehowpeculiarlypotentinitseffectontheofficialwhogaveattentiveear。
\"MynameisHelenTraversWest，\"sheannounced。
Burkestartedalittleinhisseat，andregardedthespeakerwithanewdeferenceasheheardthatnameuttered。
\"Notthedaughteroftherailwaypresident？\"heinquired。
\"Yes，\"thegirladmitted。Then，anew，shedisplayedaseriousagitationoverthethoughtofanypossiblepublicityinthisaffair。
\"Oh，please，don\'ttellanyone，\"shebeggedprettily。Theblueeyeswereveryimploring，beguiling，too。Thetimidsmilethatwreathedthetinymouthwasmarvelouslywinning。Theneatlyglovedlittlehandswereheldoutstretched，claspedinsupplication。\"Surely，sir，youseenowquiteplainlywhyitmustneverbeknownbyanyoneinallthewide，wideworldthatI
haveeverbeenbroughttothisperfectlydreadfulplace——thoughyouhavebeenquitenice!\"Hervoicedroppedtoanoteofmusicalprayerfulness。Thewordswerespokenverysoftlyandveryslowly，withintonationsdifficultforamantodeny。\"Pleaseletmegohome。\"Shepluckedaminutehandkerchieffromherhandbag，putittohereyes，andbegantosobquietly。
TheburlyInspectorofPolicewasmovedtoquicksympathy。
Really，whenallwassaidanddone，itwasashamethatonelikehershouldbysomefreakoffatehavebecomeinvolvedinthesordid，viciousthingsthathisprofessionmadeitobligatoryonhimtoinvestigate。Therewasaconsiderablehintofthepaternalinhisairashemadeanattempttoofferconsolationtotheafflicteddamsel。
\"That\'sallright，littlelady，\"heexclaimedcheerfully。\"Now，don\'tyoubeworried——notalittlebit。Takeitfromme，MissWest……Justgoahead，andtellmeallyouknowaboutthisTurnerwoman。Didyouseeheryesterday？\"
Thegirl\'ssobsceased。Afterafinaldabwiththeminutehandkerchief，sheleanedforwardalittletowardtheInspector，andproceededtoputaquestiontohimwithgreateagerness。
\"WillyouletmegohomeassoonasI\'vetoldyoutheteensylittleIknow？\"
\"Yes，\"Burkeagreedpromptly，withanencouragingsmile。Andforagoodmeasureofreassurance，headdedasonemighttoanalarmedchild:\"Nooneisgoingtohurtyou，younglady。\"
\"Well，then，yousee，itwasthisway，\"beganthebriskexplanation。\"Mr。Gilderwascallingonmeoneafternoon，andhesaidtomethenthatheknewaverycharmingyoungwoman，who——\"
Herethespeechendedabruptly，andonceagainthehandkerchiefwasbroughtintoplayasthesobbingbrokeforthwithincreasedviolence。Presently，thegirl\'svoiceroseinawail。
\"Oh，thisisdreadful——dreadful!\"Inthefinalword，thewailbroketoamoan。
Burkefelthimselfvaguelyguiltyasthecauseofsuchsufferingonthepartofonesoyoung，sofair，soinnocent。Asaculprit，hesoughthisbesttoaffordameasureofsoothingforthisgriefthathadhaditssourceinhisperformanceofduty。