"She came into the kitchen rubbing her eyes, and presenting a general appearance of untidiness which did not speak well for her social training. Her short hair was uncombed, her face unwashed, her frock open at the back, and she had no boots on. She stared hard at our reporter, but was not at all abashed at his presence. "'I'm a friend of aunt's,' said our reporter. 'You had better finish dressing, light the fire, and give yourself a good wash, and then get breakfast ready. You needn't come upstairs till you're called.' "He beckoned Mrs. Middlemore out of the room, and they proceeded upstairs to the apartments on the first floor. "'It will be as well to say nothing before Sophy,' he said. 'Now, if you please, we will go on. It is plain that the body of M. Felix is not in the house; but it must be somewhere. The question is--Where, and how it got there? These rooms were fairly secure before you went to bed last night. Is there a chain on the street door?' "'Yes.' "'Did you put it up before you went down to your bedroom?' "'I puts it up regularly every night.' "'And you did so last night?' "'Yes.' "'And turned the key?' "'Yes.' "'Was the door locked and the chain up the first thing this morning?' "'Yes--no!' "'What do you mean by that?' "'I mean I can't remember. I must be sure, mustn't I, sir?' "'You must be sure, there must not be the possibility of a mistake; this putting up of the chain is one of the points upon which a great deal may hang. Do you mean to tell me that you have any doubt on the subject?' "'I can't say for certain. I was that upset and bewildered when I found M. Felix gone that I don't remember nothing till you came up to me at the street door. 'Ow I opened it, or 'ow I got it open, I don't remember no more than the dead.' "'Think a little; it is not longer than half-an-hour since I saw you. Your memory cannot have deserted you in so short a time.' "'I've got no more memory about it than the babe unborn.' "'But you must try to have. It is a fact that the chain either was or was not up, that the door either was or was not locked. Sit down and think about it for a minute or two; I will keep quiet while you think.' "But though the woman obeyed our reporter, and sat down and thought of the matter, or said she did, she declared she could make nothing of it, and had to give it up in despair. "'It is awkward,' said our reporter, 'to say the least of it. There is no telling what construction may be put upon your loss of memory.' "'I'm a honest woman, sir,' said Mrs. Middlemore, looking imploringly at our reporter; 'you'll put in a good word for me?' "'You may depend upon that, for I am convinced you are honest and innocent, but it is unfortunate. If you _should_ happen to remember, you had best let me know before you tell anyone else.' "'Yes, sir, I'll promise that. I don't know what I should do without you.'