'Supposing Albert and me went down to the area-door,' Simon ventured, 'instead of the front-door. We might get in easier that way. It's always easier to deal with servant-girls and persons of that sort in kitchens. Then we could come upstairs and let you in at the front-door. Three detectives seem rather a lot to be entering all at once. And, besides, you don't look like a detective, sir.'
'What do I look like?' Hugo asked coldly.
'You look too much like a gentleman, sir. It's the hat, sir,' he added.
Simon had certainly surpassed himself that day. He had begun by surpassing himself at early morning, and he had kept it up. Probably never before in his life had he been so loquacious and so happy in his loquacity.
'That's not a bad scheme, Simon,' said Hugo. 'Try it.'
The brothers went down the area-steps while Hugo remained at the gate. A light burned steadily in the first-floor window. And then another and a fainter light flickered in the hall, and after a few seconds the front-door opened. Hugo literally jumped into the house, and, safely within, he banged the door.
'Now,' he said.
A middle-aged woman, holding a candle, stood by Simon and Albert in the hall.
'Are you the servant?' Hugo demanded.
'No, sir; I'm the landlady. And I'd like to know—'