Give me the key." She did not move, nor did she answer him.

At her waist hung a small bunch of household keys and this he seized with a sudden movement and jerked loose from its cord.
"You miserable hag!" he muttered, inflamed with anger at her opposition.
"If you propose to defend this girl and defy me, you'll find I'm able to crush you as I will her.

While I'm gone I expect you to come to your senses, and decide to obey me." With these words he advanced to the door of the little room and opened it.

Just outside stood Fogerty, smiling genially.
"Glad to meet you again, Mr.Mershone," he said.

"May I come in?
Thank you." While Mershone stood bewildered by this unexpected apparition the detective entered the room, closed the door carefully, and putting his back to it bowed politely to Madame Cerise.
"Pardon this seeming intrusion, ma'am," said he.