Chapter 20 Summary

The next morning, over a very late breakfast and with there still being no news of Jake, Si reads newspaper accounts of the fire to Julia, reassuring her there was nothing they could have done to prevent it. They are interrupted by the arrival of a police officer, who takes them out into a police carriage where they come face to face with the infamous Chief of Police Byrnes, who rides with them in a steadily more threatening silence to the police station. There they are photographed and their money is taken. Si attempts to stand on his constitutional rights to speak with an attorney, but is quickly beaten into submission.

Byrnes loads Si and Julia into the carriage again, where they are taken to the home of Andrew Carmody. They are greeted by Mrs. Carmody, who addresses only Byrnes, and by Carmody...