ushered into the presence of a severe official· seated at a table covered with neatly docketed papers.
The constable, a fresh-coloured young fellow from the country, saluted.
"Please, sir, this person's called about the Plummer's Cottages Baby Farming Case. Says she's mother to one of the hinfants."
"Sister," corrected Miss Semaphore timidly. "I am not a married lady, my good man."
"Will you kindly state your business," said the inspector, after an awful pause, during which he took no notice of the presence of Prudence, but went on writing stolidly.
Prudence told how a few days ago she had entrusted her sister to the care of a woman named Brown, and had paid her two sums of twenty and thirty pounds respectively. That now she found the woman had left the address given to her, that the house was shut up, and, having been told Mrs. Brown was under arrest, she had come to the station to make enquiries and to discover, if possible, the whereabouts of her sister. The narrative was told in broken words interrupted by many sighs and tears.
Inspector Smith had made a reputation in
