"'Get yourself into serious trouble, for a certainty, Mrs. Middlemore. You go out for your supper-beer every night?' "'Yes, every night; I can't do without it.' "'Beer is a wholesome beverage, if taken in moderation, which I know is the case with you. Did you go out for it last night?' "'Yes, I did.' "'Before or after you paid your last visit to these rooms?' "'Before, sir, before. You think of everything.' "'It shows that I am doing the best I can for you. Before you came up to these rooms, you had your supper?' "'Yes.' "'Sophy had some with you?' "'Yes. She's got a twist on her has Sophy.' "'A twist?' "'An appetite. She eats as much as a Grenadier.' "'All growing girls do. How old is Sophy?' "'Fourteen.' "'Then, when you went downstairs, you and Sophy went to bed?' "'Yes.' "'You both sleep in the same room?' "'Yes.' "'In the same bed, most likely?' "'Yes, we do; and the way that girl pulls the clothes off you is a caution.' "'Did you both go to bed at the same time?' "'No, I sent 'er before me, and when I went in she was as sound as a top.' "'Are you a sound sleeper yourself?' "'I was before this dreadful thing 'appened, but now I pass the most fearful nights.' "'Dreams?' "'Awful.' "'How about last light? Don't answer hastily. This is another important point.' "Thus admonished, Mrs. Middlemore took time to consider; and no doubt it was with a certain regret that she felt constrained to say, 'I think I must 'ave slept better than ordinary. I was that tired that my legs was fit to drop off me.' "'You slept very soundly?' "'I must 'ave done, mustn't I, sir?' "'That is for you to say. You see, Mrs. Middlemore, the body of M. Felix could not have been removed without a certain noise. Now, if you were awake you must have heard it.' "'I didn't 'ear nothing. I'll take my Bible oath of it.' "'At what hour did you wake this morning?' "'At 'alf-past eight, and I got up at once.' "'Isn't that rather late for you?' "'It is, sir, but I've got no one to attend to now.' "'You were not in any way disturbed in the night?' "'No, sir.' "'You positively heard nothing?' "'Nothing at all.' "'Did Sophy?' "'Love your 'eart, sir! Sophy wouldn't wake up if cannon-balls was firing all round her!' "'As a matter of fact, has she told you she heard nothing last night?' "'I won't say that. I ain't 'ad time to arks her.' "'I'll ask her myself if you've no objection. Stop here for me; I shall not be gone long.' "'I can't stop 'ere alone, sir. I'll come down, and keep in the passage while you speak to Sophy.' "They went down together, and Mrs. Middlemore remained outside while our reporter entered the kitchen. "His entrance aroused Sophy, who had been sitting in a chair, apparently asleep, in the same state of untidiness as he had left her. She fell on her knees with a guilty air, and began to rake out the stove, making a great rattle with the poker. "'Fire not lit yet, Sophy?' said our reporter, much amused.