"'You use a wrong term,' said our reporter, 'no disgrace whatever attaches to you. Good-by till this evening.'
"He shook hands with her and walked briskly away. He had nothing of importance to attend to in the office of the _Evening Moon_, but he was expected to present himself there, and it was necessary that he should arrange to have the afternoon and evening free. This being settled, he turned toward Gerard Street, with the intention of calling upon Mrs. Middlemore, to ascertain whether anything fresh had transpired. He knocked vainly at the door, however, Mrs. Middlemore was not in the house. At the bottom of Gerard Street he encountered Sophy.
"'Ah, Sophy,' he said, 'I have just been to your house.'
"''Ave yer?' said Sophy, sidling up to him. 'Aunty ain't at 'ome.'
"'At the perlice station,' answered the girl.
"'I can't tell yer. All I know is I meets aunty with a face like pickled cabbage, running and blowing and 'olding 'er sides, and I arks 'er what she's in sech a 'urry about. 'It's about poor Mr. Felix,' she ses, as well as she could speak; she was that out of breath she could 'ardly git 'er words out. 'They've found out somethink, and they've sent for me to the perlice station. You go 'ome at once and wait till I come back.' 'Ow shall I get in?' I arks; aunty never gives me the door-key; ketch 'er doing that! 'Ow shall I get in?' 'There's a gent there,' ses aunty, as 'ill open the door for yer.' 'I goes and knocks, and as no gent comes and opens the door for me, I takes a walk.'
"'That's all. I don't keep nothink from you--not likely.'
"'Can you tell me the name of the police station?'
"'Oh, yes, I can tell yer that. Bow Street.'
"Our reporter did not wait to exchange any further words, but hastened as fast as he could to the Bow Street Police Court. He was close to it when a constable accosted him.
"'I was coming for you at the _Evening Moon_ office, sir,' said the constable. 'The Inspector sent me.'
"'What does he want?' asked our reporter.
"'They've fished up something from the river. He thought you would like to see it.'
"As he entered the doors his coat was plucked by Mrs. Middlemore.
"'Ah, Mrs. Middlemore,' he said, hastily, 'I will speak to you presently. Don't go away; I will be out in a minute or two.'"