"Well, tell me this: is Mr. Carpenter in?"
"If it's him you want, why don't you go down the area steps? Pealing the bell, and having me down from the top of the house, as though I'd nothing better to do than run up and down stairs the whole evening!"
"Run?" said the Sergeant. "Go on! You couldn't! Now, put a sock in it, and let's have a real heart to heart. Is Charlie Carpenter in?"
She said grudgingly: "Yes, he's in. If you want him, you can go down and knock on his door."
"Thank you for nothing," said the Sergeant. "You let me see this running act of yours. You and me will trip downstairs, and you'll do the knocking, after which you'll tell Mr. Charlie Carpenter to shut his eyes and open the door, and see what the fairies have brought him."
"Oh, I will, will I?" said the lady, bristling. "And who says so?"
The Sergeant produced his card, and showed it to her.
"That's the name, Clara, but if you like you can call me Willy, seeing that you're so stuck on me. Come on, now, get a move on!"
She read the card painstakingly, and seemed to feel an increased aversion from him. "I'm a respectable woman, and I don't want any busies nosing round my house, nor there's no reason why I should have them what's more. If that young fellow's been up to any tricks, it's no business of mine, and so I'll have you know!"
"Well, now that I know it, let's get going," said the Sergeant.