“Ah, Mother Holf,” said I, “how long is it since you set up shop in Strelsau?” “About six months, my lord,” she answered, with a composed air and arms akimbo. “I have not come across you before,” said I, looking keenly at her. “Such a poor little shop as mine would not be likely to secure your lordship’s patronage,” she answered, in a humility that seemed only half genuine. I looked up at the windows. They were all closed and had their wooden lattices shut. The house was devoid of any signs of life. “You’ve a good house here, mother, though it wants a splash of paint,” said I. “Do you live all alone in it with your daughter?” For Max was dead and Johann abroad, and the old woman had, as far as I knew, no other children. “Sometimes; sometimes not,” said she. “I let lodgings to single men when I can.” “Full now?” “Not a soul, worse luck, my lord.” Then I shot an arrow at a venture. “The man who came in just now, then, was he only a customer?” “I wish a customer had come in, but there has been nobody,” she replied in surprised tones. I looked full in her eyes; she met mine with a blinking imperturbability. There is no face so inscrutable as a clever old woman’s when she is on her guard. And her fat body barred the entrance; I could not so much as see inside, while the window, choked full with pigs’ trotters and such-like dainties, helped me very little. If the fox were there, he had got to earth and I could not dig him out. At this moment I saw James approaching hurriedly. He was looking up the street, no doubt seeking my carriage and chafing at its delay. An instant later he saw me. “My lord,” he said, “your train will be ready in five minutes; if it doesn’t start then, the line must be closed for another half-hour.” I perceived a faint smile on the old woman’s face. I was sure then that I was on the track of Bauer, and probably of more than Bauer. But my first duty was to obey orders and get to Zenda. Besides, I could not force my way in, there in open daylight, without a scandal that would have set all the long ears in Strelsau aprick. I turned away reluctantly. I did not even know for certain that Bauer was within, and thus had no information of value to carry with me. “If your lordship would kindly recommend me--” said the old hag. “Yes, I’ll recommend you,” said I. “I’ll recommend you to be careful whom you take for lodgers. There are queer fish about, mother.” “I take the money beforehand,” she retorted with a grin; and I was as sure that she was in the plot as of my own existence.