Up went the window; out came the old lady’s head.
‘Now, young man, you needn’t put yourself out to holler at me,—I won’t be hollered at! I’ll come down and open that door in five minutes by the clock on my mantelpiece, and not a moment before.’
The fiat delivered, down came the window. Sydney looked rueful,—he consulted his watch.
‘I don’t know what you think, Champnell, but I really doubt if this comfortable creature can tell us anything worth waiting another five minutes to hear. We mustn’t let the grass grow under our feet, and time is getting on.’
I was of a different opinion,—and said so.
‘I’m afraid, Atherton, that I can’t agree with you. She seems to have noticed you hanging about all day; and it is at least possible that she has noticed a good deal which would be well worth our hearing. What more promising witness are we likely to find?—her house is the only one which overlooks the one we have just quitted. I am of opinion that it may not only prove well worth our while to wait five minutes, but also that it would be as well, if possible, not to offend her by the way. She’s not likely to afford us the information we require if you do.’
‘Good. If that’s what you think I’m sure I’m willing to wait,—only it’s to be hoped that that clock upon her mantelpiece moves quicker than its mistress.’
Presently, when about a minute had gone, he called to the cabman.
‘Seen a sign of anything?’
The cabman shouted back.