"I'm quite content to stay at home." She was listening--listening for the sounds which would betoken that the lodger was coming downstairs.
At last she heard the cautious, stuffless tread of his rubber-soled shoes shuffling along the hall.

But Bunting only woke to the fact when the front door shut to.
"That's never Mr.Sleuth going out ?" He turned on his wife, startled.

"Why, the poor gentleman'll come to harm--that he will! One has to be wide awake on an evening like this.

I hope he hasn't taken any of his money out with him." "'Tisn't the first time Mr.Sleuth's been out in a fog," said Mrs.
Bunting sombrely.
Somehow she couldn't help uttering these over-true words.

And then she turned, eager and half frightened, to see how Bunting had taken what she said.
But he looked quite placid, as if he had hardly heard her.