ered dish on the board. This homely and domestic scene,
however, was not destined to meet him to-day. The fire in the grate was
out, there were no preparations for lunch on the table, and taking up the
greater part of the light from one of the windows might have been seen
the portly form of Mrs Potts.

Mrs Potts was the drawing-room lodger, and Mr Martin both dreaded and
detested her. He shrank back a step or two. What was she doing in his
room? The absence of lunch was bad enough, but this unexpected and
undesired company was insult on injury.

Mr Martin bowed, cleared his throat, and prepared to make an elaborate
speech. Mrs Potts interrupted him fiercely.

'My good sir, this is no time for ceremony--the wailing infant up-stairs
and the two children of the house have been stolen since the morning. Mrs
Franklin is almost out of her mind with grief, and suspicion points to
you.'

'Good gracious, madam, what _do_ you mean?' said poor Mr Martin in a limp
voice. He sank down on the nearest chair, spreading out his hands on his
knees. 'What do you mean?' he continued. 'The children stolen! Who
stole them?'

'Perhaps _you_ can answer that question. Who was it made such an
indecent fuss this morning because a poor fatherless and motherless babe
cried? Who threatened to leave if that same poor babe wasn't sent to the
workhouse? Answer me that, Mr Martin, and then tell me if you know
nothing of the fate of the hapless innocents.'

Mr Martin looked cautiously round at the door, which was slightly ajar.
He got up softly and shut it. Then he advanced gently across the room
and came up close to Mrs Potts.

'Answer _me_ this,' he said. 'Did you like it, yourself?'

'Did I like what? Good gracious, the man frightens me.'

'Did you like the wailing sounds of the fatherless and motherless baby?
You were nearer to it than I was. If you heard it last night, and felt
all the pity you now express, you had a good opportunity of putting it to
the test by going up-stairs and lulling the unfortunate babe to rest. A
woman's mission, too, I have always understood.'

Mrs Potts turned scarlet.

'I! I do what you describe!' she said. 'You forget yourself, Mr
Martin.'

'I fail to see that I do, Mrs Potts. It strikes me that it is rather the
other way. Perhaps you will do me the kindness to let me have my room in
peace.'

Mrs Potts made a sweeping curtsey and vanished, and Mr Martin stood for
some time in his d