But instead of settling down to think, he rose, took a small piece of cardboard marked in large letters with the word OUT, and hung it upon the handle of his door.

This done, he sharpened a pencil, lit a reading-lamp and opened his book.

But still he hesitated to take his seat.

He scratched the rook, he walked to the window; he parted the curtains, and looked down upon the city which lay, hazily luminous, beneath him.

He looked across the vapors in the direction of Chelsea; looked fixedly for a moment, and then returned to his chair.