Then she had been so frightened that she had nearly gone out of the house, on to the pavement, for company.
"Of course I had no idea, sir, that you kept any ink in there." She spoke as if she were on the defensive, and the lodger's brow cleared.
"I was aware you used ink, sir," Mrs.Bunting went on, "for I have seen you marking that book of yours--I mean the book you read together with the Bible.

Would you like me to go out and get you another bottle, sir ?" "No," said Mr.Sleuth.

"No, I thank you.

I will at once proceed upstairs and see what damage has been done.

When I require you I shall ring." He shuffled past her, and five minutes later the drawing-room bell did ring.
At once, from the door, Mrs.Bunting saw that the chiffonnier was wide open, and that the shelves were empty save for the bottle of red ink which had turned over and now lay in a red pool of its own making on the lower shelf.
"I'm afraid it will have stained the wood, Mrs.Bunting.Perhaps I was ill-advised to keep my ink in there." "Oh, no, sir! That doesn't matter at all.