2/18 The man who was the solitary occupant of the room half rose from behind his desk. He took rapid stock of his surroundings and of the man who had confronted him. The room was small, none too clean and badly furnished. It reeked with the smell of tobacco, and notwithstanding the warmth of the June day, all the windows were tightly closed. Its occupant, a lank man with a smooth but wizened face, straight white hair and dark, piercing eyes, was in accord with his surroundings,--shabby, unkempt, with cigarette ash down the front of his coat, his collar none too clean, his tie awry. |