"If I were sure of that," she said hesitatingly, and looked me over with a critical eye. "Does he know you, sir?"
"Oh, yes," I answered; "we have met before. I assure you it will be quite all right if you will just let me walk up and announce myself to him, Mrs. Hines."
If I had had any doubt upon the point I was soon to learn that she was indeed the mother of the notorious Mr. Edwards; for, ere she had time to reply, a high-pitched, querulous voice which I had heard before cried out from somewhere above:
"If that's any one for me, mother, tell him to go away! You know perfectly well I won't see any one."
"There you are, sir," said Mrs. Hines, unable to hide her embarrassment; "I told you he wouldn't see you."
"Please give me permission to go up," I said; "he will change his mind when he hears what I have to say."
"You hear, mother!" came the irritable voice; "I'll break his neck if he comes up here!"
Judging from the sound of the voice, I concluded that the excited young man was located in a room immediately above that at the door of which I stood.
"Don't be alarmed, madam," I said, and, stepping into the room, I placed my hand reassuringly upon the old lady's shoulder.
Without waiting for any further protest I advanced to an open staircase which I had already marked as leading to the apartment above and confidently mounted. The copy-hunting pressman is not readily excluded, and a few moments later I found myself in an extremely untidy bedroom, the walls of which were decorated with sporting prints, Kirchner drawings and photographs of many damsels.