Miss Cornelia did not answer her directly.
"We'll put the detective in the blue room when he comes," she said.
"You'd better go up and see if it's all ready." Lizzie started to obey, going toward the alcove to ascend to the second floor by the alcove stairs.

But Miss Cornelia stopped her.
"Lizzie--you know that stair rail's just been varnished.

Miss Dale got a stain on her sleeve there this afternoon--and Lizzie--" "Yes'm ?" "No one is to know that he is a detective.

Not even Billy." Miss Cornelia was very firm.
"Well, what'll I say he is ?" "It's nobody's business." "A detective," moaned Lizzie, opening the hall door to go by the main staircase.

"Tiptoeing around with his eye to all the keyholes.