The Mystery of M. Felix

s. Middlemore shook the snow out of her clothes, "how

it must be if I want to keep my peace of mind. There wouldn't be a wink of sleep for me if

n in correction, with a dr

stn't let a room in the place to anybody but me.' 'But I make my living out of the rooms, sir,' ses I, 'and I can't afford to let 'em remain empty.' 'You can afford,' ses Mr. Felix, 'if I pay for 'em remaining empty. What rent do you arks for the whole 'ouse with the exception of the basement?' I opened my mouth wide, I don't mind telling you that, Mr. Wigg, when I put a price upon the 'ouse

t kind of way, and raising it to his mouth. When, after a long interval, he put it down again with

cheek! Without e

the flowers in May, being a friend of your'n." She handed the jug to Constable Nig

n it was free, and he had wiped his mouth, he said, in a mild tone--any harsh judgment

have a talk with Wigg, and to see that you was all right. The taters

ddlemore, admiringly. "Trust you for finding out things with

dlemore lay three plates and draw three chairs up to the tabl

r. Nightingale, you won't make compliments, I'm sure. You're the last man as ought to in this 'ouse." Constable Nightingale pressed her foot under the table, and she smiled at him, and continued, "I was going to tell you about my inspiration when I got the supper beer. A pint and a ha

stable Nightingale, looking amorously at Mrs. Mi

ng, "We was talking of Mr. Felix. Nightingale commenced twic

table Nightingale managed

est, sir,' ses I. 'It'll pay you,' ses he, 'to let me do exactly as I please, and never to cross me.' And I'm bound to say, Mr. Wigg, that it 'as paid me never to cross 'im and never to arks questions. 'We shall git along capitally together,' ses he, 'without servants. They're a prying, idle lot, and I won't 'ave 'em creeping up the stairs on welwet toes to find out what I'm doing. So keep none, Mrs. Middlemore,' he ses, 'not the ghost of one. You can wait on me withou

ou're a lady after my own heart, and I'm g

streets with the snow coming down and the wind a-blowing as it is now. Jest listen to it; it's going on worse than ever. Might I take the

e house," replied Const

. Middlemore. "Not

ingale. "A strange-looking man with

ndkercher round 'is neck?" exclaimed

nstable Nightingale. "Perhaps Mr. F

ople in 'isself. 'Mrs. Middlemore,' he ses sometimes, 'if there's a ring or a knock at the door, I'll attend to it. You needn't trouble yourself.' And I don't--knowing 'im, and knowing it'l

then," observed Constable Wigg, "becau

generous with 'is money, so long as he's let alone, and not pry'd upon.

, emptying his second glass of whiskey, "y

wd smile, "and I've seed things that I keep to myself. Why n

in one breath; and Constable Wigg added, "

'ave all my furniture, or I'll furnish the rooms over agin according to your fancy, and it shan't cost you a penny.' I was agreeable. Because why? Because he give me forty pound on account, to show that he was in earnest. Then he begins to furnish, and if you was to see 'is rooms, Mr. Wigg, you'd be that took aback th

ked Constable Nightingale, brewing anot

iddlemore. "Mr. Felix won

It come in when the wind burst open the street door, and Wigg and me

l never forgive me. He 'as a 'atred of 'em. And the ghost of a cat, to

ert Mrs. Middlemore's thoughts from Mr. Felix, and also from her leaning tow

help?" asked M

had imbibed, and desirous to meet the advances of Mrs. Middlemore, slyly put his arm round her waist, and to hide the movement from the observation of his brother constable, made a clumsy movement over the table, and overtur

s pushed ope

etly pushed open, and the other two observed i

s. Middlemore, shaking lik

ight, was the cat which had already twice before alarmed Constable Wigg. They uttered a cry of horror, and indeed they were justified by the picture which