e."

There needed but this to fire the landlady to extremities. Her answer
rang through the house. Dirty kitchen, indeed! And how many meals had
Miss Sparkes eaten there at cost price--aye, often for nothing at all!
And who was it as made most dirt, coming in at all hours of the day and
night from running about the streets?

"Very well, my lady! Are you going to turn that key or not? That's all
I want to know."

"I'll have pity on your ignorance," replied Polly, "and tell you more
than that. I'm going to bed, and going to try to get to sleep if
there's any chance of it in a 'ouse like this, which might be a 'sylum
for inebriates."

Mrs. Bubb laughed, the strangest laugh ever heard from her respectable
lips. Words were needless, and in a few seconds she panted before her
friends downstairs.

"She says she's a-goin' to bed. Of all the shimeless creatures! Called
me every nime she could turn her tongue to! And wouldn't open her door
not if the 'ouse was burning. Do you hear her?"

Mr. Gammon buttoned his coat from top to bottom, smoothed his moustache
and his side-whiskers, and had the air of a man who is in readiness for
stern duty.

"I want both of you to come up with me," he said quietly.

Mrs. Clover began to look alarmed, even embarrassed.

"But perhaps she's really gone to bed."

"All right, she shall have time," he nodded, laughing. "I want both of
you to come up to see fair play."

"But, Mr. Gammon, I shouldn't like--"

"Mrs. Clover, you've come here to see Polly, and you've a right to see
Polly, and by jorrocks you shall see Polly! Follow me upstairs. I've
said all that need be said; now to business."

They ascended; Gammon three steps at a stride, the others in a hurry
and a flutter. Light streamed from the Cheesemans' room; the
first-floor lodgers; incapable any longer of self-restraint, were out
on the landing. On the next floor it was dark, but Mr. Gammon saw a
gleam along the bottom of Polly's door. He knocked--the knock of a
policeman armed with a warrant.

"Miss Sparkes!"

"Oh, it's you this time, is it? Come just to say good night? You
needn't have put yourself out."

"Miss Sparkes, are you in your proper dress?"

"What d'you mean?" Polly answered resentfully. "You've been drinking
again, I suppose."

"Not at all, my dear. I asked you for a good and sufficient reason. I'm
going to break your door open, that's all, and I wish to give you fair
warning. Are you dressed or not?"

"Im