S AND MRS. MIDDLEMORE WHAT I

off the snow dust which had blown in upon them from the st

said, "we must all be agreed upon what

iscovered?" crie

ve got to

's nothing to find out

repared with a story. I've got something in my mind that you don't seem to have in yours; what it is you shall hear presently. Mrs. Middlemore, going out fo

Nightingale; but wha

ave the house safe, and you are su

ke my oa

but it may come to that. When you come back wit

I d

you do; it's

O

n you come home you find Wi

es

unless we was called in. We must have been called in by somebody, and wh

s a rock, N

se while you've gone for your supper-beer?" Mrs. Middlemore coug

s only two people living regularly in the 'ouse, Mr. Felix and me. If Mr. Felix makes it w

. It's you that does that. Why? You shut the street-door tight when you went out; you find it open when you come back, and at the same time you see a man with a red handkercher round his neck run out of the house

greed that it was,

make it, by my silver watch that I won in a raffle, twenty minute

Mrs. Middlemore, "I c

now; there's no need to be too particular; such a night as this is 'll excuse a lot. I'll take the liberty of stopping your clock and putting the hands back to twelve, so that you won't be fixed to a half-hour or so. The clock stopped while you was getting your supper-beer, of course. Likewise I stop my watch, and put the hands back to about the same t

aid Wigg, "at my

" said Mrs.

oing to do now?" as

," replied Const

p?" This, with a fi

ously. "I want to make sure where it got that red color fr

stifled scream, and clap

constable, "is what I had in my mind and you didn't have in yours. Why, if you

Mrs. Middlemore, "we shall

after you. Pull yourself together, there's a good soul, and answer me

ten, ver

oney, he likes his pleasures. Now, are you sure

ertain

not go out befo

I tell

t all events, he ain't the sort of ma

s too fond of

he middle of the night--at such

ev

ook ill in the nigh

ev

to his room witho

first come into the 'ouse. 'Never,' he ses to me, 'under any circumstances whatever, let me see you going upstairs to m

ew moments, and then he said, briskl

hed the basement throug

g, "it got out of the house when w

d Constable Nighti

or, Constable Nightingale examining very carefu

e's no mistaking it. And I'm hanged if it

e?" asked Mrs. Middlemore, under her

hand, "I am. Whatever happens, it's my duty and Wigg's to

re, helplessly, "but if you have

tain, and this, and this. The spectre cat has been up these stairs. Puss, puss, puss, puss! Not likely

, it

t ain't the first time I've been here, you know. Where's the keyho

ring, and he fixes it some'ow from the inside; he presses somethi

ne do it

ey can; it's 'is

brass plate but him; that shows he's at home." He kn

ddlemore, "I'm sure he will. He's the last ma

ou, you remember, Wigg. 'Constable,' says he, 'you're on night duty here.' 'Yes, sir,' I answers. 'Very good,' says he, 'I live in this house, a

nd rapped at the door twenty times, he

his brows. "He must be a sound slee

he declared, "to rouse the dead," but no response

ake hold of. The door's for all the world like a safe without a knob. Mr. Felix, Mr. F

to a stone wall, and he and Constable Wigg and Mrs

his neck as run out of the house while Wigg and me was talking together outside, there's more in this than meets the eye. Now, Mrs. Middlemore, there's no occasion for us

, Mr. Nightingale,

couldn't help hearing us, unless he's took a sleeping draught of twe

ble Nightingale to the ground somewhat unexpectedly. Certainly every person in the house possessed of the sense of hearing must have heard the bell, which had a peculiar resonant ring, and

ouse him?" asked Co

ore, "if----" and then suddenly pau

able Nightingale

floated through it, but in less quantities, and there was a perce

rs. Middlemore, do you think

said Mrs. Middlemor

Constable Nightingale. "He

ith a will, but their united e

Nightingale, "by fair means or foul. Wig

don

but it was at some little distance, and he did not w

in Wardour St

new to the neighborhood, and I'm cer

ale, briskly, seeing his way out of

rs. Middlemore. "Not if you was to fill my lap with dyme

tern eye on his comrade, "and I ain't a man to shirk a d

tingale," said Constable Wigg, in an injured t

l I've got to say. I hope you don't. You'd better both see me to the door, and s

Wigg and Mrs. Middlemore, at the housekeeper's suggestion, made their way to the warm kitchen, where she brewed for her com

able Wigg, and then appeared sudden

u, and when you're curious you like to know, don't you

n, and I do like to know. Oh!" she cried, with a

hance, as who wouldn't be? When Nightingale threw out that hint, he meant

, I'm

one else, he touches a tender point. There's no harm in my admiring you, my dear; who could help it, that's what I'd like to know? Thank you--I will take another lump of sugar. Yes, who could help it? Charms like yours--if you'll forgive me for mentioning 'em--ain't to be met

n amorous had it not been for the mysterious trouble in her house; "you'

m I said anyth

give you my

, and said, "What's passed

ll, Mr

better acquaint

lf. Oh, Mr. Wigg, I 'ope nothi

y accident. But Nightingale always makes the worst of things. That's not my way. Wait till the worst co

r her in his will, which elicited from Constable Wigg the remark that he hoped Mr. Felix had made his will and had behaved as he ought to; "though, mind you," he added, "I don't believe anything's the matter with him, or that he's at home. It's all through

" Constable Wigg called ou

le Nightingale, without: "don

table Wigg, with his lips very close to Mrs. Midd

mith. Accompanying them was a tall, thin, gentlemanly-looking, but

table Nightingale, glancing suspiciously

ble Wigg. "There ain't be

oward the seedy young gentleman, "we met Dr. Lamb, who was coming home from a case, and

come from, for he looked particularly shaky, and was rather unsteady on his legs. The locksmith now made some sensible remarks to the effect that he had been awakened fro

h of his lungs and hammered away at the door, to as little purpose as he had previously done. "There'

ch longer than he expected. However, in the course of about twenty minutes the task was accomplished, and the door stood open for them to enter. Standing for a moment irresolutely on the threshold they were greeted by a blast of cold air. Constable Nightingale was the firs

There's been foul play here. Who opened that window, and left it open

body here," sai

emore, in an awestruck voice, pointin

ad. In an arm-chair by the side of the bed sat a man, his

ke

nd thrust his hand inside the man's waistcoat. Then, with his fingers

dlemore. "It's Mr. Felix! W

ot immediately reply. When he removed his hand

the matter with the man," he

laimed Mrs.

" said Dr. Lamb