He shrugged his shoulders, and groaned,—half in jest, half in earnest.
‘If I must I suppose I must,—it’s the first time I’ve been refused admittance to a lady’s house in all my life! What have I done to deserve this thing?—If you keep me waiting long I’ll tear that infernal den to pieces!’
He sauntered across the road, viciously kicking the stones as he went. The door reopened.
‘Has that other young man gone?’
‘He has.’
‘Then now I’ll let you in. Have him inside my house I won’t.’
The chain was removed. Lessingham and I entered. Then the door was refastened and the chain replaced. Our hostess showed us into the front room on the ground floor; it was sparsely furnished and not too clean,—but there were chairs enough for us to sit upon; which she insisted on our occupying.
‘Sit down, do,—I can’t abide to see folks standing; it gives me the fidgets.’
So soon as we were seated, without any overture on our parts she plunged in medias res.
‘I know what it is you’ve come about,—I know! You want me to tell you who it is as lives in the house over the road. Well, I can tell you,—and I dare bet a shilling that I’m about the only one who can.’