The Mystery of M. FelixFarjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
General
The Mystery of M. Felix
Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
Detective and mystery stories; English fiction -- 19th century
"'I ain't got none. The perlice orficer comes to me and ses, "Mrs.
Middlemore," he ses, "you must go immediate to the Bow Street Perlice
Station, and wait outside till yer called." "But what about?" I arks.
"About Mr. Felix," he answers; "somethink's been found out, and they
can't git on without yer. Yer'll have to wait a longish time per'aps,
but if yer move away till yer called it'll be worse for yer." "But
what am I to do about the 'ouse?" I arks. "Sophy's out, and there's no
one to mind it." "I'll mind it," ses the perlice orficer, "and when
Sophy comes back I'll let her in. Off yer go, and don't tell nobody at
Bow Street what yer've come about. It's a secret, and the Government
won't stand it being talked of. Yer'll be paid for yer trouble." So
off I starts, and 'ere 'ave I been waiting for nigh upon two hours,
and nobody's made a move toward me.'
"'I've heard something of this,' said our reporter, pushing Mrs.
Middle more into a cab, and giving the driver instructions to drive
quickly to Gerard Street. It was not without difficulty he succeeded
in this, for Mrs. Middlemore, with the fear of the 'Government' upon
her, wanted to remain in Bow Street. 'I met Sophy before I came here,
and she told me you had been sent for to the police Station. Now be
quiet, will you? Have you not promised to be guided by me?'
"'But the Government, sir, the Government! I shall be clapped in
prison!'
"'You'll be nothing of the sort. The Government and I are friends, and
you are perfectly safe if you do as I tell you.'
"'I must, I serpose, sir. There's nothink else for it, but I'm being
wore to a shadder. If this goes on much longer I sha'n't 'ave a ounce
of flesh on my bones. Yer sor Sophy, sir, did yer? Yer've been at the
'ouse, then?'
"'Yes, I have been at your house, but it was not there that I saw your
niece. I met her in the street, and she informed me that you were at
Bow Street Police Station.'
"'What was the 'uzzy doing in the streets?'
"'I can't say, but in the streets she was forced to remain.'
"'Why, sir, the 'ouse was open to 'er. I met 'er and told 'er to go
'ome and wait till I come back.'
"'Exactly. And she did go, and knocked at the door, as I did, but she
was as unsuccessful as I was. She did not get in.'
"''Ow can that be, sir? The perlice officer was there, waiting to open
the door for 'er. The lazy slut! She's been telling yer a parcel of
lies.'
"'How about myself, Mrs. Middlemore? Am I telling you a parcel of lies
when I say that I knocked pretty loudly at your door, and that no one
came to open it.'
"'I wouldn't dispute your word, sir, but I can't make it out.'
"'I can, and I will explain it to you presently, inside your house, if
we can manage to get in. Here we are. Jump out.'
"The cab being discharged, Mrs. Middlemore knocked and rang, but
knocked and rang in vain.
"'Allo, anty!' said Sophy, coming up. ''Ave they found Mr. Felix's
body?'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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