The central person of the group was a big man, with an unusually large neck, a fat pale face, a brown moustache tinged with grey, and a voice and laugh like a fog-horn.

It was he apparently who was paying for the champagne, and he was clearly on intimate terms with all the party.

Mr.Sabin watched for his opportunity, and then rising from his seat touched him on the shoulder.
"Mr.Skinner, I believe ?" he said quietly.
The big man looked down upon Mr.Sabin with the sullen offensiveness of the professional bully.
"You've hit it first time," he admitted.

"Who are you, anyway ?" Mr.Sabin produced a card.
"I called this morning," he said, "upon the gentleman whose name you will see there.

He directed me to you, and told me to come here." The man tore the card into small pieces.
"So long, boys," he said, addressing his late companions.