“Good. Here is a card with the name written thereon. Good morning, Mrs. Mumms.”
“Will you call again, sir?”
“Most certainly I will, in a day or two.”
This was certainly going a most roundabout way to obtain the desired information, but Mr. Wrench’s object was to throw the woman off her guard.
There could be no possible harm in his inquiring for a fictitious individual. His doing so would not arouse suspicion. In the due course of time he hoped to have Mrs. Mumms as an ally.
He called again upon her; of course no such person could be found. He gave her five shillings for her trouble, and engaged her on the day as charwoman to his own establishment.
She came and cleared up his house. He treated her liberally—gave her a plentiful supply of beer and gin, and she was greatly pleased with her new employer.
She went her ways, and in about a fortnight was again hired by our cunning detective.
In the evening she was directed by Mrs. Wrench to dust and clean her husband’s library. While she was occupied with this task Mr. Wrench entered. The charwoman was about to withdraw, but the detective requested her to remain.
“Don’t go, Mrs. Mumms,” said Wrench. “I want to have a little conversation with you. Sit down.”