But Sprague did not break. He
stared back blankly....

If his eyes and his attention had included the whole group it is
possible that what happened would not have taken Dundee so completely by
surprise. He had paid little attention to a sort of concerted gasp, a
slight movement among the group farthest from him.

But not even his intense concentration upon Sprague could prevent his
hearing Karen Marshall's childish voice, tremulous with fear:

"No, no, Hugo! Don't--don't!"

He whirled from Sprague in time to see Judge Marshall disengaging his
arm from his young wife's clinging fingers, to note, with profound
astonishment, that Drake was stepping hastily aside, so that not even
his coat sleeve might be brushed by the advancing figure of the elderly,
retired judge. And before Judge Marshall had time to speak, Dundee saw
that a blight had touched, at last, the solid friendship of the women;
that they did not look at each other with that air of standing together
whatever happened, but that their eyes, not meeting at all, became
secret, calculating, afraid....

"Sir!" Judge Marshall began pompously, when he had planted himself
squarely before the young detective, "It shall never be said of me that
I have tried, even in the slightest way, to hamper the course of
justice."

"I am sure of that, Judge Marshall," Dundee replied courteously, but his
pulses were hammering. What, in God's name, did this long-winded old
fool have to tell him?... "You have some information you believe may be
valuable, Judge?"

"I do not believe it will be at all valuable, sir. On the contrary!" the
old man retorted indignantly. "But to suppress the fact at this juncture
might lead to grave misunderstandings later, when it inevitably comes to
light. So, sir, it is my duty to inform you that I myself own a Colt's
.32, as well as a Maxim silencer."

"What!" Dundee exclaimed incredulously. He was conscious that, behind
him, Captain Strawn was getting to his feet.

"There is no need to get out your handcuffs, Captain Strawn!" Judge
Marshall warned him majestically. "I assure you that I have not violated
the law. Every judge, active and retired, is entitled to a permit to
carry a weapon, and I long ago availed myself of the privilege. Nor am I
about to make a confession of murder!"

"There ain't no permit, so far as I know, Judge," Strawn growled, "for
any man, whoever he may be--God A'mighty himself not excepted--to tote a
gun with a silencer