"'Not me, sir. M. Felix wasn't the kind of gentleman you could cross. He 'ad a way of speaking, when he was giving orders you couldn't mistake. His word was lore, and he meant it to be. You ain't forgetting, sir, that he was master 'ere?'
"'No, I'm not forgetting that. His orders, then, were to be obeyed without question?'
"'They was, sir. He said to me, "When people don't do as I tell 'em, Mrs. Middlemore, I get rid of 'em."'
"'A very dictatorial gentleman.'
"'Only when he was saying, "This is to be," or, "That is to be." At other times he was as smooth as marble, and always passed a pleasant word.'
"'He had visitors occasionally, I suppose?'
"'Oh, yes, sir, but I scarcely ever sor them. Nearly always he let 'em in and out 'isself.'
"'In a manner of speaking, then, he led a secret life?'
"'Some might call it so. Gentlemen living in chambers do all sorts of things.'
"'So I believe,' said our reporter, dryly.