Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/353

 hurried her over the crossing and to the front of the doorway. The little drama was almost over. As they stopped, staring, a fantastic figure retreated, entered the door, and banged it behind him.

They were laughing at the count's discomfiture as McGraw came up. He took his cue like an actor, and walking up to the count grabbed him fiercely by the arm.

"Now then," he said harshly, "what you a-doin' here? What's that you got there?" He pointed to a black bag the Italian still held in his hand.

"Who are you, anyway?" said the count angrily. "Vat beesness of yours? Tell me that!"

"I'll show you!" and McGraw threw back his coat and displayed his badge. "See here now! What have you got in that bag at this time of night, hangin' round in this doorway?"

"My God! I don't know myself!" the count exclaimed.

"I'll see, then," said McGraw, and snatching it from him he opened the bag and drew out a diamond tiara.

"You don't know!" he thundered. "We'll see about that at the station-house! Come along with me!"

The count, seeing the jewels, seemed almost ready to faint with surprise and horror. "But I am very innocent!" he wailed. "I am ze Count D'Ampleri. I live at ze Saint Regis! You shall see! Before heaven! I never knew that things was there! It was give me just now, by—by—" He paused, discomfited.

"Well, by whom?" was McGraw's inquiry.

"You will not believe—nobody won't believe—it ees too much! A mad woman she give me zis bag just now zis minute!"