Now that this was done, I walked slowly back toward the armchair. Julia Denton looked up at me with some surprise. I had adjusted the catch, which formerly closed the arms over its occupant the moment the latter seated herself, in such a way that it required the touch of my finger at the back of the chair. “Are you quite comfortable, Miss Denton?” I now inquired as my left forefinger sought the secret catch.

“Yes, quite, thank you. But really, Molly, I’ve seen enough. It’s very nice, and I suppose there are advantages, but I prefer my exercise outdoors-OHHH-what in the world?-stop it-how dare you-what does this mean?”

For having touched the catch, I now stepped back and saw the arms folding around Julia Denton’s waist, capturing her snugly and preventing her from escaping her fate.

“It means, Miss Denton, that I shall ask you to bear with me until I have concluded the little matter of some unfinished business with your charming companion,” I smilingly retorted.

Julia Denton stared up at me with an incredulous expression on her lovely face. “But, sir,” she protested in a voice that shook with indignation. “This is audacious and highhanded! I have absolutely nothing to do with whatever has gone between you and Molly, and you have surely no right to compel me to be a witness to anything scandalous. Molly, how could you? Do you mean to tell me you are actually on-Oh, it’s unthinkable and it offends my modesty even to say it aloud!-on more intimate terms with this man than simply those of casual acquaintance through your mother’s introduction?”

I glanced toward Molly Bashe, who still swung back and forth on the trapeze, the ropes fastened neatly about her wrists. I then strode forward to the wall and turned a little crank which acted on the windlass which acted on those pulley-ropes fixed so tightly to Molly’s wrists, which had the effect of hoisting her up till she strained on tiptoes.

“Oh dear! What are you doing, Mr. Jack? Please let me down! These ropes won’t come off, and they’re hurting my wrists.”