In other conditions than those obtaining at the moment, such a display of terror on the part of a truculent looking, strongly built man would have been almost ludicrous; but Steingall found no humor in the spectacle.

He was gazing at the Hungarian with a curious concentration, and the police captain, who had begun by thinking his colleague was saying far too much, and who was inclined to disagree with some of his conclusions, now thought he could discern method in his madness.
Again did Vassilan murmur something to the Earl in a strange tongue, and Valletort, with difficulty repressing his annoyance, explained that his friend was feeling the effects of a blow received earlier in the evening, and wished to retire at once to his room in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
"By all means," said Steingall suavely.

"I gather that Count Vassilan has no connection with the inquiry--in fact, he is not interested in it." "He is, in a sense----" began the Earl, but Vassilan grasped his arm, and evidently besought him to come away without another word.

Though Valletort was in a towering rage, he obviously thought fit to fall in with his companion's views.
"You see how it is," he said, with a nonchalant gesture that was belied by his grating tone.

"I am afraid I must postpone my branch of this inquiry till a later hour--probably until the morning." "Do you withdraw all charges against John D.Curtis ?" demanded Devar, and his clear, incisive voice was distinctly hostile in its icy precision.
"No, sir.