“That I am under arrest?”

“Yes.”

“And must go with you?”

“Precisely.”

“To the Tombs?”

“To the Tombs, senora.”

“Oh! this is dreadful—­dreadful!” craftily moaned Cervera, with tears now filling her eyes.

“I am sorry for you, senora, but I must do my duty,” said Nick, rising.

“I know you must—­but, oh! what shall I do?  To whom can I appeal?  Oh! if Mr. Venner were only here!”

“You can send a messenger for him later, or dispatch one of your servants from here,” suggested Nick.

“I have none here,” sobbed Cervera.  “They are all out, and I am alone.  I have no one—­”

She suddenly stopped, then drew herself up with resentful dignity, and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I am a fool to be so weak!” she exclaimed, bitterly.  “Detective Carter, I know nothing of the crime you mention.  I never heard of Mary Barton.  This arrest is an outrage, and I will appeal to the highest court in the land for vindication!”

“That’s your privilege,” said Nick, shortly.  “But at present you must go with me.”

“I cannot go as I am,” declared Cervera, passionately stamping her foot.  “I am in evening dress—­attired to receive a caller.  I shall take cold if I go out of doors in—­”

“Oh, you may change your dress,” Nick curtly interrupted, the need of which was decidedly obvious.  “I’ll give you time for that.”

“How very kind,” sneered Cervera, with a bitter flash of her black eyes.  “You shall yet suffer for this affront, Detective Carter.”

“All right,” said Nick.  “But I have no time to speculate upon it now, so get yourself ready.  Wait a bit, my lady!  I’ll go along with you!”

“With me?  You insult me!”

“Oh, no, I don’t.  I want a look at your chamber before letting you out of my sight.  I’ve seen rooms with more than one way out, and I don’t intend that you shall elude me.”

“You’re a suspicious coward, sir!”

“Stow all that, senora, and lead the way,” commanded Nick, bluntly.

Pale and resentful, with a sneer on her lips, Cervera led the way through, the hall, playing her part so artfully that Nick, ignorant of her late interview with Rufus Venner, was not much inclined to suspect her of duplicity just then.

Upon reaching the top of the hall stairs, Cervera switched on another light, and then that which illumined her chamber, into which she haughtily led the detective.

“A fine affront to suffer,” she bitterly exclaimed, throwing herself into a chair.  “Your conduct is despicable!  You are no gentleman!”

“I am a detective,” retorted Nick, “and I come pretty near knowing my business.”

“Oh! you do,” sneered Cervera.  “Plainly that is the limit of your knowledge.  You may not be as wise as you think.”

Nick made no reply, but looked sharply about the room.