"''Ush, you 'uzzy,' said Mrs. Middlemore, clapping her hand on the girl's mouth. 'What do yer mean by being outside instead of in?' "'What do I mean?' retorted Sophy, with an air of great enjoyment. 'Why, 'cause I couldn't git in. I knocked and knocked, jest as you're doing of now, but nobody answered.' "'I understood,' said our reporter to Mrs. Middlemore, 'that you generally carry your latchkey with you.' "'So I do sir, but I didn't 'ave it in my pocket when the perlice officer come; it was downstairs on the kitchen table. I wanted to go down and fetch it, but he wouldn't let me wait a minute. "If yer ain't quick," he said, "yer'll git yerself in trouble;" and he bundled me out of the 'ouse. That's 'ow it was, sir.' "'The question is,' said our reporter, 'how we are to get in. Is there a back way?' "'No, sir.' "'Then we must get in by the front door or window. The window will be the easiest. It is fastened inside in the usual way, I suppose?' "'Yes, sir.' "'The easiest plan will be for me to break one of the panes in such a manner as to attract as little notice as possible, and then put my hand through and undo the fastening. Then we can lift the sash, and Sophy can get in and unlock the street door for us.' "I'm game,' said Sophy, to whom any task of this kind was especially inviting. "Our reporter was about to put his plan into execution when Mrs. Middlemore clutched his arm. He instantly withdrew it. "'Of course, Mrs. Middlemore,' he said, coldly, 'it is your house, and I can't commit a trespass without your permission.' "'It ain't that, sir,' said Mrs. Middlemore, piteously. 'Sophy's a plucky little thing, and though I do give 'er a 'ard word now and then, I mean well by 'er, I do indeed, sir.' "'Yer a good sort, aunty,' said Sophy. 'I don't mind yer 'ard words, not a bit.' "''Old yer saucy tongue, and let me speak to the gentleman. Yes, sir, I mean well by Sophy, and I should never 'ave another minute's peace if anythink was to appen to 'er.' "'What do you think will happen to her if I do what I propose?' "'There's been one sudding death in the 'ouse, sir----.' "'Go on, Mrs. Middlemore. Don't stop in the middle of a sentence; finish what you have to say. Time is very precious just now.' "There's been one sudding death in the 'ouse, and now there's a man in there as won't or can't answer.' "'You fear he might be dead. If so, he cannot do Sophy any harm. Eh, Sophy?' "'Not 'im. It'd take more nor one dead man to scare Sophy. Jest you open the winder, and I'll be in like a shot.' "'Have I your permission now, Mrs. Middlemore?' "'But if he shouldn't be dead, sor. If he was laying in wait with a crowbar to knock Sophy on the 'ead----' "'Oh, you are beginning to think the man who called upon you was not a police officer, after all?' "'I'm beginning to have my doubts, sir.'