“ ‘How long ago was it?’

“ ‘Oh, not very many minutes.’

“ ‘Within the last five?’

“ ‘Well, it could not be more than five.’

“ ‘You’re only wasting your time, sir, and every minute now is of importance,’ cried the commissionnaire; ‘take my word for it that my old woman has nothing to do with it, and come down to the other end of the street. Well, if you won’t, I will.’ And with that he rushed off in the other direction.

“But I was after him in an instant and caught him by the sleeve.

“ ‘Where do you live?’ said I.