Evidently satisfied by his scrutiny, he drew himself erect and moved toward the shop door as if to enter.

Through the glass he saw a man in shirt-sleeves, packing.

The sight of the man brought another change of mind, for he stepped back and raised his head to a big sign over the front.

His face now came into view, with its well-modelled nose and square chin--the features of a gentleman of both refinement and intelligence.

A man of forty--perhaps of forty-five--clean-shaven, a touch of gray about his temples, his eyes shadowed by heavy brows from beneath which now and then came a flash as brief and brilliant as an electric spark.