r readin' in the paper as 'ow burglars are
passionate fond of silver, an' 'avin' no reg'lar 'ours for callin',
like to drop in when least expected." She noted with satisfaction that
Pinkey changed colour, and shook the creases out of her skirt. "Well,
I must be goin'," she added. "I never like to keep William waitin' for
'is tea."

A cold wave swept over Chook. He had clean forgotten William, who
would go home to Botany Street and find an empty house. Pinkey dived
into the bedroom, and left Chook to face it out.

"'Ere's yer key," he said helplessly, to make a beginning.

"This is my key," said Mrs Partridge, feeling in her pocket, "an' the
other one is under the flower-pot for William, if I'm out. I dunno
what you mean."

"I mean this is the key of yer new 'ouse in Surry Hills," said Chook,
fumbling hopelessly with the piece of iron.

"You've bin drinkin', an' the beer's gone to yer 'ead," said Mrs
Partridge, unwilling to take offence.

"I tell yer I'm as dry as a bone," cried Chook, losing patience.

"Yer think yer live in Botany Street, but yer don't. Yer live in
Foveaux Street, an' this is the key of the 'ouse."

"I think I live in Botany Street, but I've moved to Foveaux Street,"
repeated Mrs Partridge, but the words conveyed no meaning to her mind.

She came closer to Chook. He looked and smelt sober, and suddenly a
horrid suspicion ran through her mind that her brain was softening.
She was older than they thought, for she had taken five years off her
age when she had married William. In an agony of fear she searched her
memory for the events of the past month, trying to recall any symptom
of illness that should have warned her. She could remember nothing,
and turned to Chook with a wild fear in her eyes. Something must be
wrong with him.

"Can you understand what you're sayin'?" she asked.

"Yes," said Chook, anxious to get it over. "Yer lived in Botany Street
this morning, but yer moved to-day, an' now yer live in Foveaux Street
in the 'ouse yer picked on Monday."

"Do you expect me to believe that?" cried Mrs Partridge.

"No," said Chook; "but yer will w'en yer go 'ome an' find your 'ouse
empty."

"An' who moved me?"

"Me an' Liz," said Chook. "The picnic wasn't till next week, an' Liz
an' me thought we'd give yer a surprise."

For the first time in her life Mrs Partridge was speechless. She saw
that she had been tricked shamefully. They had ransacked her house,
and laid bare