The Argosy — page 110: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

98 Lady Grace. “‘T don’t know that it is a good thing,” significantly retorted her master. ‘‘ The fact must be that you dropped asleep last night and let someone get in.” The woman was indignant at the insinuation. “Sir,” returned she, “T’d rather you accused me of doing it myself than say that. I don’t think I as much as sat down last night, for I thought it a good oppor- tunity to clean out the cupboards; and that’s what I was doing the, whole evening.” Dismissing her, Charles Baumgarten sat thinking it over. By a desperate wrench, he succeeded in opening the drawer, and its contents appeared to be untouched. Altogether, it was singular. Had anyone got in for the purpose of plunder, rummaged over the contents of one drawer, attempted the lock of the other, would he have been likely to leave his trail behind him in the shape of those ballet girls, whose appearance had nearly done for the Bishop? No. Charles concluded some one of his own acquaintances must have done it for a “ lark,” and he would very much like to find out which of them it was. Only a few minutes had elapsed when Mrs. Tuff reappeared, asking permission to speak. “It has all come over me this moment as clear as daylight, sir,” she began, advancing a few steps into the room. ‘Some rogue must have got in last night through your leaving the key in the passage door.” ‘Through—what do you say ?” asked her master. “The latch-key, sir. You left it in the door when you went out the second time.” “TI don’t know what you mean, Mrs. Tuff. I did not leave my key in the door last night or any other night.” ‘Why, yes, sir, you did,” was her answer, spoken in a tone of remonstrance. ‘“ Else how could I have got in?” ‘What are you dreaming of now? You have your own key.” ‘But you took mine from me last night, sir. Don’t you remem- ber?” she added, seeing Mr. Baumgarten appeared not to com- prehend. ‘When I came back, I found the latch-key in the door, and I knew you had left it there for me: but I thought it not a safe thing to do, sir, if you'll forgive me for saying it.” Charles Baumgarten looked at the woman in amazement, for not a syllable of what she was saying could he understand. He ordered her to explain. “When you came back, sir, not long after you went out “Stop a bit. We shall never come to the end in this way. I went out after dinner, and I came home at ten o’clock. I took my key with me, and let myself in with it on my return. What other tale are you telling ?” ‘*T don’t mean that at all, sir; I mean when you came back at dusk,” obstinately persisted the woman. ‘I did not come back at dusk.” Mrs. Tuff paused, wondering, no doubt, whether night and sleep l J a a! comicbooks.com