The Mystery of M. Felix

the lantern, and the cat, unseen by the

dlemore, "I shall go off." And she forthwith pro

trike a light, there's a good fellow, and pick up the

able Nightingale, who did not seem anxious to rid himself of his burden. Stirred to emulative sympathy, Constable Wigg took possession of one of Mrs. Middlemore's hand

e by no means relished his comrade's insidious attempt to slide i

ed Mrs. Middlemore

able Wigg, holding a glass to he

skey, and continued to sip, with intermittent shudders, till she had drained the last drop. Then she summone

, in a trembling voice. "What's

r?" inquired Constable Nighti

t! The

le, in a jocular voice; "who ever heard of

d--and you

Nightingale, with anoth

hat officer, fol

didn't see a cat, and that

ightingale, "but not a red 'un--no,

ou says, Ni

're boiled, but we don't boil cats, that I know of, and if we did they wouldn't turn red. Y

igg, adding, with an unconscious imitat

eceived me they deceived me jest now. If you two gentlemen wasn't here, I'd be ready to take my o

of invention. "It was natural, that's what it was, natural. I'm free to confess I was a bit startled. First, there's the night--listen to it; it's

er, it'll beat that American bl

up to 'em. Its constitootional, Mrs. Middlemore; I was that way when I was little. There was a cupboard at home, and my mother used to say, 'Don't you ever open it, Jimmy; there's a ghost hiding behind the door.' I wouldn't have put my hand on the knob for untold gold. It's the same now. Anything that's alive I don't give way to; but when it comes to ghosts and spectres I take a ba

"I couldn't improve on you. You've spoke like a man, and I

's fears, and in a more contented frame of mind she resumed

ng his glass and looking affectionately at Mrs. Middlemore,

od creature," sa

dlemore, now thoroughly res

and settled themselves c

d Mrs. Middlemore, "that your mot

thing. I didn't find it out till I was a man, and it was as much a

y. "You've made me that curious that I'll never

st let you into the secret, I suppose

r. Nightingal

he didn't want us young 'uns to pull about. There, the murder's out, and I wouldn't have mentioned the things if you hadn't be

dering cap, as the saying is; he felt that Constable Nightingale was making the running too fast, and that he should

ng of the red

a tone of reproof, "I'm astonished at y

ckon with. It ain't to be expected that Mrs. Middlemore can have us always with her, though I'm sure I should

Mr. Wigg," said Mrs. M

led Constable Nightinga

he eye of a connoisseur, "ain't as good as the best of wine, I stand corrected. Did

you know where to get one, and wh

Wigg, beginning to feel the effects of t

have or haven't," retort

hatever you do, don't fall out. You're as we

rted fellow; "shake hands, Wigg, and let bygones be bygones. All I want you to do is to

oint, and if I don't make Mrs. Middlemore's mind easy, I'll give up. Not easy as long as we're here, but easy when we're gone, as gone we must be

inclining, with the proverbial fickleness of her sex,

dressing himself solely to his hostess, "after the way

dlemore, smirking at the flatt

ed the wily Wigg, smirking back at her, "and rema

Mr. W

's not many as can pick and choose, but you're one

nergetically that Constable Nightinga

ing the red cat

dlemore has nerves. It amounts to this, ma'am. I've read a bit in my time, and I'm going to giv

iddlemore, looking a

thought it was red, and so did Nightingale, if

"As you and Mrs. Middlemore seem to be of one mind, I'll make a clean breast o

rewarded him with a look of gratitude; but s

t white. Not for a minute, not for five, not for ten but for hours I may say. I remember reading somewhere that when you've looked for a longish time upon nothing but white, that it's as likely as not the next thing you see will be red, never mind what the color really is. That's the way with us. The cat's been haunti

imed Constabl

y, Nightingale?" as

d that's the reason I wouldn't harp on it, but now y

ble Nightingale r

ried Mrs. Middlemore. "W

it's in the house. If it isn't red, I give in and apologize. If i

arted back before he reached it,

that, Wigg? Is t

ed down, rubbed his eyes, loo

taking the color. Have you got a

ed Mrs. Middlemor

nd examining the floor, "are marks of the cat's

ying it," said

n duty he

tingale? You've been long

because I'm out of my beat, and I don't want to be made an example

at

it, to run to your assistance. Do you twig? My being on y

elieved Constable Wigg's mi

account, too, for our being in the house,

arn, Wigg, and one of the lessons I'd advise you to take to heart"--here he lo

but he took no notice of it. "You may as

o objec

nervously. "I wouldn't be left alone

arm round her waist; but the moment the fastenings of the street-door were unloosed, it flew open as thou

d Constable Nightingale, helping the others to shut t

ed Mrs. Middlemore to Constable Wigg. "Mr. F

s given," said Constable Nightingale, "and we'll g

ype="