They were to let furnished, the house being occupied by a widow not quite of the ordinary type of landlady, who entertained only bachelors, and was fairly conscientious in the discharge of her obligations.

Six months later, during Harvey's absence abroad, this woman died, and on his return the house had already been stripped of furniture.

For a moment he inclined to take a house of his own, but from this perilous experiment he was saved by an intimation that, if he were willing to supply himself with furniture and service, an incoming tenant would let him occupy his old quarters.

Harvey grasped at the offer.

His landlord was a man named Buncombe, a truss manufacturer, who had two children, and seemingly no wife.