"I don't see her."
"She is in my sitting room, under lock and key."
"Back there?"
The café keeper nodded.
"But I can't understand it, Pepper. How did you get her here, and so soon? You didn't have her when I was here before, did you?"
"Of course not. Right after you went away she came in, looking for Nelson, because the woman she lives with is very sick. I told her to wait in the sitting room, and then I locked the door and the window on her."
"What is she doing now?"
As if in reply to the young man's question there was a loud knock on the sitting-room door.
"Mr. Pepper! Mr. Pepper!" came in Gertrude's voice.
"She has knocked several times," said Pepper. "But I didn't mind that. I'm thankful she hasn't begun to kick and scream."