Then the detective gazed around at the others with a placid smile which seemed to show that he, for one, was well content with the unusual turn taken by events.
"I suppose you boys have verbatim notes of all that was said," he inquired, tossing the remark collectively to the group of pressmen.
"Every word," came the assurance.
"Well, now, I want you to keep all that out of the papers." "If we do that, Steingall, what is there left ?" said one of them good-humoredly.
"The biggest thing you have dropped on to this year; unless I am greatly mistaken, the scoop of scoops for those who happen to be present.

I'm not going to pretend that any of you are blind or deaf, and it will assist the police materially if no comment is made on what you have heard and seen.

I don't like to put it otherwise than as a friendly hint; but I may want the whole bunch as witnesses before this thing is through, so your mouths should be closed effectually with regard to incidents in this room." A half-hearted laugh went around, and someone asked: "We must put up a readable story of some kind--if we cut out certain details, surely we can use others ?" "I said 'incidents in this room,'" repeated the detective.
"Then we can mention the arrival of the Earl and the Count on the scene ?" "Why not ?" "One minute, sir," put in Mr.Horace P.Curtis.

"If these gentlemen take you at your word, the charge made against my nephew will be published throughout the length and breadth of the United States to-morrow." "I don't see how something of the sort is to be avoided," said Steingall.
"Then, in common fairness, the newspapers ought to state that my wife and I, as well as Mr.Devar, as good as told the Earl that he was lying." "I imagine you can leave the matter safely in the very capable hands of the reporters present," said Steingall.
"Remember, please, that no charge was actually named against Curtis," said Devar.

"The Earl of Valletort demanded that he should be found and arrested, and described him as a dangerous adventurer, but gave no shred of proof of his wild-cat statement that Curtis had been engaged in a scandalous abduction, and, when asked for it, discovered that he had urgent business elsewhere." Steingall held up a hand in quiet reproof.
"My own view is that it would be best, at this stage, to say merely that the two noblemen came here inquiring for Curtis, and leave it at that.