CHAPTER IV.
PONTYSTRAD On a morning in mid-July, 1901, Mr.D.V.Williams bicycled to Paddington Station from New Square, Lincoln's Inn.

The brown canvas case fitted to the frame of his male bicycle contained a change of clothes, a suit of paijamas, a safety razor, tooth-brush, hair-brush and comb.

He himself was wearing a well-cut dark grey suit--Norfolk jacket, knickerbockers and thick stockings.
Having had his bicycle labelled "Swansea," he entered a first-class compartment of the South Wales express.

Though not lavish on his expenditure he was travelling first because he still felt a little uneasy in the presence of men--mostly men of the rougher type.
Perhaps there was a second class in those days; there may be still.
But I have a distinct impression that Mr.Vavasour Williams, law student, travelled "first" on this occasion: for this was how he met a person of whom his friend, Honoria Fraser, had often spoken--Michael Rossiter.
He did not of course--till after they had passed Swindon--know the name of his travelling companion.

Five minutes before the train left Paddington there entered his compartment of the corridor carriage a tall man with a short, curly black beard and nice eyes--eyes like agates in colour.