When he found himself in his lodgings he put a match to the ready-laid fire, and presently made himself some tea.

Then he sat idly through the evening, for the most part staring into the glowing coals, occasionally taking up a book for a few minutes, and throwing it aside again with a sigh of weariness.

As it got late he shivered so with cold, in spite of the fire, that he had to sit in his overcoat.

When it was past midnight he began to pace the room, making impatient gestures, and often resting his head upon his hands as if it ached.

It must have been about a quarter to one when there was the sound of a vehicle pulling up in the street below, followed by a knock at the door.