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