He made it a rule on such nights as these, that if, by chance, returning late to his office he should find such a shivering piece of jetsam sheltering in his own doorway, he would give him or her the price of a bed.
In his own quaint way he derived a certain speculative excitement from this practice.

If the doorway was empty he regarded himself as a winner, if some one stood sheltered in the deep recess which is a feature of the old Georgian houses in this historic thoroughfare, he would lose to the extent of a shilling.
He peered forward through the semi-darkness as he neared the door of his offices.
"I've lost," he said, and stripped his gloves preparatory to groping in his pocket for a coin.
Somebody was standing in the entrance, but it was obviously a very respectable somebody.

A dumpy, motherly somebody in a seal-skin coat and a preposterous bonnet.
"Hullo," said T.X.in surprise, "are you trying to get in here ?" "I want to see Mr.Meredith," said the visitor, in the mincing affected tones of one who excused the vulgar source of her prosperity by frequently reiterated claims to having seen better days.
"Your longing shall be gratified," said T.X.

gravely.
He unlocked the heavy door, passed through the uncarpeted passage--there are no frills on Government offices--and led the way up the stairs to the suite on the first floor which constituted his bureau.
He switched on all the lights and surveyed his visitor, a comfortable person of the landlady type.
"A good sort," thought T.X., "but somewhat overweighted with lorgnettes and seal-skin." "You will pardon my coming to see you at this hour of the night," she began deprecatingly, "but as my dear father used to say, 'Hopi soit qui mal y pense.'" "Your dear father being in the garter business ?" suggested T.X.
humorously.

"Won't you sit down, Mrs .-- --" "Mrs.Cassley," beamed the lady as she seated herself.