"He pressed into her willing palm another half-sovereign, making the second he had given her.
"'I'm sure you're very kind, sir,' said Mrs. Middlemore, after furtively glancing at the coin, to see that it was not a sixpence. 'Shall I see you agin?'
"'Yes. Good-night, Mrs. Middlemore.'
"'Good-night, sir,' she responded, as they went down-stairs. 'I 'ope Sophy won't be gone long.'
"'She'll be back soon, I daresay.' He paused in the passage. 'Mrs. Middlemore, are you satisfied that I am your friend?'
"'Yes, sir, I am.'
"'Then, if anything new occurs, you will let me know at once.'
"'I will, sir.'
"'And if it should happen,' said our reporter, 'that you remember anything you have forgotten to tell me, you will come and let me know it?'
"'I'll be sure to, sir.'