CHAPTER I.
THE HOUSE IN BLOOMSBURY.
"What about ?" There are some houses whereof the outward aspect is sealed with the seal of respectability--houses which inspire confidence in the minds of the most sceptical of butchers and bakers--houses at whose area-gates the tradesman delivers his goods undoubtingly, and from whose spotless door-steps the vagabond children of the neighbourhood recoil as from a shrine too sacred for their gambols.
Such a house made its presence obvious, some years ago, in one of the smaller streets of that west-central region which lies between Holborn and St.Pancras Church.

It is perhaps the nature of ultra-respectability to be disagreeably conspicuous.

The unsullied brightness of No.

14 Fitzgeorge-street was a standing reproach to every other house in the dingy thorough-fare.

That one spot of cleanliness made the surrounding dirt cruelly palpable.