On the 16th he told me that he was going to Liverpool for a couple of days; he slept in the house that night, and went off early on the 17th, taking his portmanteau with him.' "'At what time did he leave ?' asked Mr.Pepys.
"'I couldn't say exactly,' replied Mrs.Chapman with some hesitation.
'You see this is the off season here.

None of my rooms are let, except the one to Mr.Skinner, and I only have one servant.

I keep four during the summer, autumn, and winter season,' she added with conscious pride, fearing that her former statement might prejudice the reputation of Russell House.

'I thought I had heard Mr.Skinner go out about nine o'clock, but about an hour later the girl and I were both in the basement, and we heard the front door open and shut with a bang, and then a step in the hall.
"'"That's Mr.Skinner," said Mary.

"So it is," I said, "why, I thought he had gone an hour ago." "He did go out then," said Mary, "for he left his bedroom door open and I went in to do his bed and tidy his room." "Just go and see if that's him, Mary," I said, and Mary ran up to the hall and up the stairs, and came back to tell me that that was Mr.
Skinner all right enough; he had gone straight up to his room.