The Mystery of M. Felix

el

ow from the east, now from the west, now from all points of the compass at once; which last caprice--taking place for at least the twentieth time

s," he muttered, "and what he fancies

nst stone walls (for the reason that being blown there by previous winds it could get no further), seemed to take a spiteful pleasure in whirling into his face, which was tingling and smarting with cold, and as a matter of course into his eyes, which it caused to run

el

old Westminster's tower had been invaded by an army of malicious witches, how much more readily might he have been forgiven for not being a

e thir

el

l was concerned, silence.

t. He started back, all his nerves thrilling with an unreasonable spasm of horror. Instinctively looking down, he discovered that he had been ridiculously alarmed by a miserable, half-starved, and nearly whole-frozen cat, which, with t

k from the regular line of buildings in the street. Little did he dream that the cry for help had proceeded from that very house, the upper portion of which was inhabited by a gentleman known as M. Felix by some, as Mr. Felix by others. Well named, apparently, for although he was not young, M. Felix was distinguished by a certain happy, light-hearted air, which mar

before noon. Despite the inclemency of the weather, Mrs. Middlemore had not deviated on this night from her usual custom. She was a widow, without re

ping his feet within the portal of Mrs. Middlemore's stree

at you

s left of me," rep

who rejoiced in the name of Nightingale. "It's al

en regularly blo

n't in it with this, and whether I've got a nose

g, exce

ut his hand to his nose as he asked the question, his reference to it h

ble Wigg, "I had half a fancy that

Did y

I wasn't sur

" remarked Constable Nightingal

must have be

hen Constable Nightingale took a step forward, and glanced up at the windows of the front rooms

e Wigg, his eyes followi

Fel

. Felix when

mean to say you

I've only been on t

me last year, and he behaved handsome. Tipped me at Christmas, and tipped me at New Year's. Half a sov. each t

hope in his voice; "not many like him knocking around. But"--with su

with Mr. Felix. Don't you wish you had the same complaint? 'Constable,' said he to me, when I came on this beat last year, 'you're on night duty here, eh?' 'Yes, sir,' I answers

rked Constable Wigg, with growing i

ine to much in him, and he knows the usefulness of us. Carries a lump of money about him, and likes to feel himself safe. Never what you call drunk, you know. Just a bit sprung, as a real

ou for the informa

ave me the office, and it's only friendly for me to give it to you." Constable Nightingale loo

u," said Constable Wigg

regular fancy to me, and told me if I got the beat again to come to him immediate. Once you see him, you can't miss knowing him. Tall and slim, with hair getting gray. No whiskers; only a mustac

's s

ight stuff. Ah, a real good sort she is! Goes out ever

seen her half

ats and dogs or snowed for a month, she

N

e can keep her feet. The snow's getting thicker--and listen to the wind! Let's get close to the door. Well, I remembe

posed. "Just now you

, and so

a foreign acc

't den

ep on sayin

el

't it be

; but not Mons

Nightingale; I'm no

that. Monshure twists the ton

Call him Mr. if

equilibrium a man stepped out of the house, or rather stumbled out of it, in a state of great excitement. He had a crimson scarf round his neck; it was loosely tied, and the ends floated in the wind. The little bit of color shone bright in the glare of

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