It seemed to belong to no one and to be crumbling pitifully to ruin like an aged man who has no friends.

Yet this house had its uses, which Gaydon could not but perceive were of a secret kind.

On the very first day that Gaydon sat at his window a man, who seemed from his dress to be of a high consideration, came sauntering along that sordid thoroughfare, where he seemed entirely out of place, like a butterfly on the high seas.

To Gaydon's surprise he stopped at the door, gave a cautious look round, and rapped quickly with his stick.

At once the door of that uninhabited house was opened.