Somehow, between the lines of the printed form he smelt out a fresh disaster.

He read it over again and again.

All at once as he stood in the doorway of the hotel, turning up the collar of his waterproof and watching the little pools in the hollows of the asphalt pavement to see if it were still raining, the conviction came upon him.

In a second he knew that he was ruined.

The true meaning of the notice became apparent with the swiftness of a great flash of light.