All the framework was black with time, and from the iron the paint had mostly scaled away.
It was evident that up to lately there had been a large notice board in front of the balcony.

It had, however, been roughly torn away, the uprights which had supported it still remaining.

Behind the rails of the balcony I saw there were some loose boards, whose raw edges looked white.

I would have given a good deal to have been able to see the notice board intact, as it would, perhaps, have given some clue to the ownership of the house.

I remembered my experience of the investigation and purchase of Carfax, and I could not but feel that if I could find the former owner there might be some means discovered of gaining access to the house.
There was at present nothing to be learned from the Piccadilly side, and nothing could be done, so I went around to the back to see if anything could be gathered from this quarter.