The man hesitated no longer--he turned and ran as though for his life.

In a few minutes he was round the corner of the street and out of sight.
Laverick returned slowly to the entry.
A distant clock struck midnight.

A couple of clerks came along the pavement on the other side, their hands and arms full of letters.
Laverick hesitated.

He was never afterwards able to account for the impulse which prevented his calling out to them.

Instead he lurked in the shadows and watched them go by.