After much search among the advertisements in the newspapers in the Free Library, followed by hurried rushes on her bicycle to the uttermost ends of London, Esther found a house in Lower Phillimore Place of which two floors and the basement were to be let unfurnished. It was precisely the sort of place the two girls wanted, and as the rent was reasonable Esther at once arranged to take it. Esther was to occupy the ground floor, the first floor would be reserved for Susie whenever she required it; in the basement a respectable woman would live, and cook, and sleep. Esther began to look about for the respectable woman.
It was only then that Esther suddenly bethought herself of the extreme danger of sleeping--a solitary and unprotected woman--upon the ground-floor of a London house. For an hour or so the difficulty seemed insurmountable, and it appeared to Esther that she must cancel the agreement. I suggested a dog. But, as Esther at once pointed out, a determined and unscrupulous murderer would not hesitate to poison a dog.
Then I proposed that a respectable married couple should be engaged. Probably, in consideration of living rent free, the woman would do the housework during the day, and the husband would kill murderers at night. Esther considered a moment. The idea appealed to her.
"Why not a policeman and his wife?" said Esther.
With Esther to decide is to act. Within an hour she had laid her scheme before the Inspector in charge at the Police Station by St. Mary Abbott's, and enjoined upon him to search his division for a married constable of lofty character who would like to live rent free in a dry and roomy basement. Within twenty-four hours the constable was found.
Esther viewed him with approval, for he was large and serious; he had the highest of characters, and had married a cook from De Vere Gardens who had received a plated teapot from her late mistress as a mark of esteem. They both assured Esther that they would do their best by her and the other young lady, and an appointment was made for a view of the house in Phillimore Place.
And so it came about that, one evening, just as dusk was falling, Esther and Susie met the constable and his wife outside the house, and, after greeting each other on the pavement, entered together. At that moment an errand-boy was slowly propelling a carrier tricycle along by the kerb. His day's deliveries were accomplished, and, as he looked this way and that way with a mind receptive of stray impressions, his eye fell upon Esther and her companions. He was immediately conscious of something unusual.