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"Of course if I'd known the gentleman wished to wash at home," said Mr. Pattern, sibilantly and pityingly.

"Well, thank you so much, and you'll let me know if you hear of anything," said Jane, getting up.

"Now, just one moment, Mrs. Gresham," said Mr. Pattern, who was enjoying to the full the age-old conventions of bartering. "There's a house just come in this morning in Riverside Close."

Abstracting her mind from an unbidden vision of a peripatetic house--perhaps on chicken's legs like Baba Yaga's--Jane said she would look in another time.

"Three bed., two sit., lounge hall, lock-up garage, constant hot water, fridge, tiled bath and ekcetera," said Mr. Pattern with a resolute display of his fine uppers.

"I can't wait now," said Jane. "But if you'll give me the address again I might look at it. Is there anyone there or shall I take the key?"

"Well, Mrs. Gresham, there is someone there," said Mr. Pattern. "I don't think I made it quite clear that it's not to let, Mrs. Gresham, at least, not as a house if you see what I mean. The owner, Mrs. Merivale, takes paying guests. She is a widow and she always makes everyone very comfortable. Canon Banister's mother was with her for some months before she died, and I know some of Mrs. Crawley's daughters have been there with their children during the war."