here her needles and thread were still lying. But
the arm-chair was placed idly away from any accommodation for work,
and had, as Mr. Prendergast thought, been recently filled by some
idle person.

The woman who rose from her chair as she declared herself to be Mary
Swan was old and sickly looking, but nevertheless there was that
about her which was prepossessing. Her face was thin and delicate and
pale, and not hard and coarse; her voice was low, as a woman's should
be, and her hands were white and small. Her clothes, though very
poor, were neat, and worn as a poor lady might have worn them. Though
there was in her face an aspect almost of terror as she owned to
her name in the stranger's presence, yet there was also about her a
certain amount of female dignity, which made Mr. Prendergast feel
that it behoved him to treat her not only with gentleness, but also
with respect.

"I want to say a few words to you," said he, "in consequence of a
letter I have received; perhaps you will allow me to sit down for a
minute or two."

"Certainly, sir, certainly. This is my daughter, Mary Swan; do you
wish that she should leave the room, sir?" And Mary Swan, as her
mother spoke, got up and prepared to depart quietly.

"By no means, by no means," said Mr. Prendergast, putting his hand
out so as to detain her. "I would much rather that she should remain,
as it may be very likely that she may assist me in my inquiries. You
will know who I am, no doubt, when I mention my name; Mr. Mollett
will have mentioned me to you--I am Mr. Prendergast."

"No, sir, he never did," said Mrs. Swan.

"Oh!" said Mr. Prendergast, having ascertained that Mr. Mollett was
at any rate well known at No. 7 Spinny Lane. "I thought that he might
probably have done so. He is at home at present, I believe?"

"Sir?" said Mary Swan senior.

"Your father is at home, I believe?" said Mr. Prendergast, turning to
the younger woman.

"Sir?" said Mary Swan junior. It was clear at any rate that the women
were not practised liars, for they could not bring themselves on the
spur of the moment to deny that he was in the house.

Mr. Prendergast did not wish to be confronted at present with Matthew
Mollett. Such a step might or might not be desirable before the
termination of the interview; but at the present moment he thought
that he might probably learn more from the two women as they were
than he would do if Mollett were with them.

It had been acknowledged to