I rang the bell at the lattice-door upon the landing.



"He shouldn't have tried it, anyhow," I said to myself. "A man who

eats like a pig ought to look like a pig."



An obviously worthy woman, with an anxious face and a carelessly

placed cap, came and surveyed me through the lattice.



I gave my name and she let me in in a dubious fashion.



"Well?" said I, as we stood together inside Pyecraft's piece of the

landing.



"'E said you was to come in if you came," she said, and regarded me,

making no motion to show me anywhere. And then, confidentially,

"'E's locked in, sir."



"Locked in?"



"Locked himself in yesterday morning and 'asn't let any one in since,

sir. And ever and again SWEARING. Oh, my!"



I stared at the door she indicated by her glances.



"In there?" I said.



"Yes, sir."



"What's up?"



She shook her head sadly, "'E keeps on calling for vittles, sir.

'EAVY vittles 'e wants. I get 'im what I can. Pork 'e's 'ad,

sooit puddin', sossiges, noo bread. Everythink like that. Left outside,

if you please, and me go away. 'E's eatin', sir, somethink AWFUL."



There came a piping bawl from inside the door: "That Formalyn?"



"That you, Pyecraft?" I shouted, and went and banged the door.



"Tell her to go away."



I did.



Then I could hear a curious pattering upon the door, almost like

some one feeling for the handle in the dark, and Pyecraft's familiar

grunts.



"It's all right," I said, "she's gone."



But for a long time the door didn't open.



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