. You wish to speak to me?"

"Yes, sir, if you would not mind stepping inside, sir. I'm all alone,
except my husband, sir."

Guest stepped into the little room, half parlour, half kitchen, of the
porter's lodge, and Mrs Brade carefully wiped a highly polished, well
beeswaxed chair with her apron and set it by the fire.

"No, no, not there," said Guest hastily. "I'm hot enough already."

"Of course, sir," said the woman, changing the position; "and you've
been walking, sir. One oughtn't to have a fire on a day like this; only
you see, sir, one must cook and do everything here when one only has one
room."

"Of course, Mrs Brade; but it is quite a little palace of cleanliness."

"Which it's very good of you to say so, sir," said Mrs Brade, with an
ill-used air, "and it would be if it wasn't for my husband. He's one of
the best of men, sir, but that untidy in his habits. What with one boot
here, and another boot there, and tobacco ashes all over the place, he
nearly worries my life out."

A low, peculiar sound came from an ajar door, sounding like a
remonstrant growl from the gentleman in question, whereupon Mrs Brade
went and shut the door, and drew an old moreen curtain across the
opening.

"He do breathe a little hard in his sleep, sir," she said
apologetically.

"And likes plenty of it, eh?"

"Oh, dear no, sir. It's only eleven yet," replied Mrs Brade, glancing
at a sallow-faced Dutch clock on the wall. "He isn't doo till twelve.
You forget, sir, as he's up pretty well all night to let in gents at all
hours."

"Loose fish?"

"Some of 'em, sir--if you means gents as don't behave themselves and
comes home smelling of spirits horrid. But most of 'em's from Fleet
Street, sir, from the noosepapers, as keeps 'em till two and three and
four o'clock, and sometimes later."

"Of course, of course, Mrs Brade," said Guest, rising. "We must have
our morning papers."

"Yes, sir, _and_ our bread and rolls; not that I wish you to think we've
anyone in the inn as is a baker."

"I did not think so, Mrs Brade; but I'm in a hurry."

"And I won't detain you, sir. But, of course, you were going in to see
poor Mr Stratton, sir."

"Yes; what of that," said Guest sharply.

"I wanted to speak to you, sir, about him very serious, sir. Only
yesterday, sir--"

"Yes; go on, my good woman, go on. Is there anything fresh?"

"Oh, yes, sir," said the woman, putting her apron to her eyes. "I know
all about his lo