When the town was young a Lansing had lived there in pomp and circumstance--his own great-grandfather--and he smiled grimly, amused at the irony of things terrestrial.
A slattern at the door halted him: "Nobody ain't let up them stairs without my knowin' why," she mumbled.
"I want to see Captain Selwyn," he explained.
"Hey ?" "Captain Selwyn!" "Hey?
I'm a little deef!" screeched the old crone.

"Is it Cap'n Selwyn you want ?" Above, Selwyn, hearing his name screamed through the shadows of the ancient house, came to the stairwell and looked down into the blackness.
"What is it, Mrs.Glodden ?" he said sharply; then, catching sight of a dim figure springing up the stairs: "Here! this way.

Is it for me ?" and as Boots came into the light from his open door: "Oh!" he whispered, deadly pale under the reaction; "I thought it was a telegram.

Come in." Boots shook the snow from his hat and coat into the passageway and took the single chair; Selwyn, tall and gaunt in his shabby dressing-gown, stood looking at him and plucking nervously at the frayed and tasselled cord around his waist.
"I don't know how you came to stumble in here," he said at length, "but I'm glad to see you." "Thanks," replied Boots, gazing shamelessly and inquisitively about.
There was nothing to see except a few books, a pipe or two, toilet articles, and a shaky gas-jet.

The flat military trunk was under the iron bed.
"I--it's not much of a place," observed Selwyn, forcing a smile.
"However, you see I'm so seldom in town; I'm busy at the Hook, you know.
So I don't require anything elaborate." "Yes, I know," said Boots solemnly.