He rested on the landing and faced round toward me.

There was something in his eye which said, Stop there! So we finished our conversation on the landing.

The next day, I mustered assurance enough to knock at his door, having a pretext ready .-- No answer .-- Knock again.

A door, as if of a cabinet, was shut softly and locked, and presently I heard the peculiar dead beat of his thick-soled, misshapen boots.

The bolts and the lock of the inner door were unfastened,--with unnecessary noise, I thought,--and he came into the passage.