Chapter IX
"What next?" asked the Judge.
"That pestilent English officer, if you please, M. le Juge," said the detective. "That fire-eating, swashbuckling soldier, with his blustering barrack-room ways. I long to come to close quarters with him. He ridiculed me, taunted me, said I knew nothing—we will see, we will see."
"In fact, you wish to interrogate him yourself. Very well. Let us have him in."
When Sir Charles Collingham entered, he included the three officials in one cold, stiff bow, waited a moment, and then, finding he was not offered a chair, said with studied politeness:
"I presume I may sit down?"
"Pardon. Of course; pray be seated," said the Judge, hastily, and evidently a little ashamed of himself.
"Ah! thanks. Do you object?" went on the General, taking out a silver ci
