“How did you get to your rooms?” asked Nick, at a venture. “The elevator man says you did not ride up in the cage with him.” Again the fellow started, as if in sudden terror, again the woman made a motion which suggested leaving the room. Nick was now playing a bold game. “He is mistaken,” said Mantelle. “I went to my room in the usual manner.” “And the lady sitting there by your side,” said Nick, “she——” “Leave her out of it,” said Mantelle angrily. “She met you later that night—or early the next morning, rather, at——” The woman sprang to her feet, her eyes flashing through her veil. “I won’t stay here to be insulted!” she said. She started for the door, but Nick stopped her with a gesture. “Wait,” he said. “Are you the woman who occupied a room on the third story of a tenement on East Houston Street?” “Let me pass,” cried the woman, as Nick stepped in front of her. “I can account for myself to the proper authorities, but not to you.” In her rage the woman drew herself up to her full height and gazed at the detective, with a fierce hate burning in her eyes. “It may be as well for you to remain here and answer a few questions, but you may go if you think best,” said Nick. “What do you want?” demanded the woman. “This: When did you first meet Julius Mantelle?” Mantelle now sprang to his feet. “This is intolerable!” he cried. “I am not detaining you,” said Nick. Mantelle and the woman turned to the door. “A nice mess you have made of my morning,” Julius said. CHAPTER XX. FLUSHING THE BIRDS. A waiter approached, a tall, dark, slim fellow, with evident traces of African blood in his veins. He stepped impudently in front of the detectives as they followed Julius and the woman from the room. His manner was insulting in the extreme. “How did you get into that room?” he demanded. Nick sized up the situation instantly. Some of their conversation had been overheard, and this waiter had been set on to detain them while the man and woman got away. Either that, or assault, perhaps murder, was intended. It was clear that he had made progress during his talk with Mantelle. Without replying to the impudent question of the waiter, Nick motioned him to step aside, and advanced toward the public room, which lay at the end of a wide hall upon which the private room opened. At the rear of the hall was a wide door opening on an alley. The waiter did not move. He still obstructed the way. Julius and the woman were passing through the outer room toward the street door. “You had no right in there,” continued the waiter, angry at the way he was ignored, “and I have a notion to throw you out into the alley.” “Mention of the Townsend murder appears to stir things up in this house,” said the detective, looking the waiter in the eye. For a second the fellow looked dismayed, but only for a second. Other waiters were now gathering in the hall. The clerk advanced to the scene of trouble.