"'He was on the beat 'ere before Mr. Wigg.'
"'Ah; and that is how you got to know him?'
"'Yes.'
"'He knew M. Felix, probably?'
"'Mr. Felix made a point of being always friendly with the policemen on the beat.'
"'Sensible man. Tipped them, I daresay?'
"'They'd best answer that theirselves. He never give me nothing to give 'em.'
"'What did Constable Nightingale say when you made that remark to him?'
"'Nothing,' replied Mrs. Middlemore, with sudden reserve.
"'Surely he must have made some remark, to the effect that he was your friend, or words bearing the same meaning?'