A tap on Mrs. Berry's door was answered, and the two were admitted.
"What is it?" and the housekeeper looked a little surprised at her visitors.
"May we look out of your window?" asked Ted, politely.
"Surely," was the reply. "But what for?"
Ted, however, already had raised the window and was looking out. It was dark, or nearly, and the house next door showed a dim light in the room opposite the one they were in.
The shade was down at the window, so they saw nothing of the room but a few indistinct shadows.
"Tell us something about the old caretaker next door, won't you?"
begged Ted, and Mrs. Berry responded: "Now, don't suspect him! Why, old
Joe is the most honest man in the city! I've known him for years, and
I'm sure he wouldn't steal a pin! Mr. Mortimer trusts him absolutely."
"But tell us a little about him."
"There's nothing to tell, only that he stays there alone when the family go away. He lives, practically, in the two rooms; that room opposite and the kitchen. He has no company but his parrot; he makes a great pet of that."
"A nice Polly?"