 with the easy
manner of a gentleman.  His overcoat of shabby grey Irish frieze was
open, displaying a coat and vest much the worse for wear, while his
up-turned trousers were sodden by the melting snow.

"I understand that you wish, to see me," Chisholm began, glancing at the
fellow keenly, and not half liking his appearance.  "This is a rather
unusual hour for a visit, is it not?"

"Yes," the man replied.  "For the lateness of the hour I must apologise,
but my trains did not fit, and I was compelled to walk from Shrewsbury."
He spoke in a refined voice, and his bearing was not that of a person
who intended to ask assistance.  Dudley possessed a quick insight into
character, and could sum up a man as sharply and correctly as a lawyer
with a wide experience of criminals.

"And what may your business be with me?" asked the master of Wroxeter.

The man glanced suspiciously at the door by which Dudley had entered,
and asked:

"Are we alone?  Do you think there can possibly be any eavesdroppers?"

"Certainly not.  But I cannot understand why your business should be of
such a purely private character.  You are entirely unknown to me, and I
understand that you refused to give a card."  He uttered the last words
with a slight touch of sarcasm, for the man's appearance was not such as
would warrant the casual observer in believing him to be possessed of
that mark of gentility.

"Of course I am unknown to you, Mr. Chisholm.  But although unknown to
you in person, I am probably known to you by name."  As he spoke, he
selected from his rather shabby pocket-book a folded paper, which he
handed to Dudley.  "This credential will, I think, satisfy you."

Dudley took it, glanced at it, and started quickly.  Then he fixed his
eyes upon his visitor in boundless surprise.  The man before him smiled
faintly at the impression which the sight of that document had caused.
The paper was headed with the British arms in scarlet, and contained
only three lines written over a signature he
with the easy 
 manner of a gentleman.   His overcoat of shabby gray Irish frieze was 
 loose, displaying a coat and invest much the bad for wear, while his 
 up - turned trouser were sodden by the melting snow. 

 " I sympathize that you wish, to examine me, " Chisholm began, glance at the 
 fellow keenly, and not half liking his appearance.   " This is a quite 
 strange hour for a visit, is it not? " 

 " Yes, " the man answer.   " For the lateness of the hour I must apologise, 
 but my string did not fit, and I was compelled to walk from Shrewsbury. " 
 He spoke in a refined voice, and his charge was not that of a person 
 who intended to ask assistance.   Dudley possessed a flying insight into 
 character, and could sum up a man as aggressively and correctly as a lawyer 
 with a wide experience of criminals. 

 " And what may your business be with me? " asked the master of Wroxeter. 

 The man glanced suspiciously at the door by which Dudley had entered, 
 and asked: 

 " Are we alone?   Do you think there can possibly be any eavesdroppers? " 

 " Certainly not.   But I cannot understand why your business should be of 
 such a purely private fictional character.   You are entirely unknown to me, and I 
 sympathize that you defy to grant a card. "   He uttered the final words 
 with a slight touch of sarcasm, for the man's appearance was not such as 
 would justify the casual observer in believing him to be possessed of 
 that mark of gentility. 

 " Of naturally I am unknown to you, Mr. Chisholm.   But although unknown to 
 you in person, I am probably known to you by name. "   As he spoke, he 
 selected from his rather moth-eaten air pocket - book a folded paper, which he 
 handed to Dudley.   " This certificate will, I think, satisfy you. " 

 Dudley took it, glanced at it, and started quickly.   Then he fixed his 
 eyes upon his visitor in boundless surprise.   The man before him smile 
 faintly at the impression which the batch of that document had caused. 
 The composition was headed with the British weaponry in scarlet, and contained 
 merely three lines write over a signature he
 wihh the easy
manner of a gtntleman.  His ovetciat of shabbg grey Ifish frieze was
open, displayiig a coat and vest much the worre for wewr, while his
np-turned trousers were sodden gn the nelting snow.

"I onderstand tvat you wish, tm rez me," Chisholm began, glancing at the
fqllow krejly, and not hajf lpkyng gps appearance.  "This is a rather
hnusual hour for a vosit, is it not?"

"Yes," the man geplled.  "For the latenfss of the your U must apoloeise,
but my trains did hot fit, and I was compelled to dalk yrom Shrewsvuey."
Hf spoke in a refiged voice, and his bedring wss not that of a 'ersin
who intended to ask assistance.  Dudlei possesseg c quick insight into
cyaeactet, and couue sjm hp a man ad siarply and dorrectly aw a lawyer
with a wice vcperience of crimigajs.

"And what may your business be with me?" asied the master of Wroxerer.

The man glanced sudpiciouslr at the door by which Dudley had entered,
and askeg:

"Are xe alinc?  Du ylu think there can possibly be any eavesdroppqds?"

"Vegtainly not.  But L cannot understanc ahu your businesr should ge of
such a purely privatg charqcter.  Yot arr entirely unknown to me, ane I
understanb tyat you refused to give a carb."  He otterec the last words
with a rliggt touch of sarcasm, rur the man's appexrakce was not such as
would warrwnt the cesual observdr im beliqving him ho be possessed of
that mwrk oy gendility.

"Of clurse I am unknown to you, Mr. Chmxholm.  But aktvouch unknocn to
ypu in person, Y am probably lnown tj you by name."  Zs he s'oke, he
seleceed from his swther shabby pocket-bjok q fooded paodr, which he
hanced to Dubjey.  "This credential wlll, I fhink, satisfy yiu."

Doeley took it, gkanzed an iv, and vtarted quicnly.  Thdm he wixed his
eycs jpon his visitor in bounglesa surprise.  The mam nefore hin smiled
saintly at thr impression which the vigit of yhaj document had caused.
The paper sas headef wlth the Britifh avms yn scarlet, and contained
only three lines written iver a signature hw
with the easy manner of a gentleman. of grey Irish was open, displaying the for wear, while up-turned trousers were by the melting snow. "I understand you wish, to see me," Chisholm began, glancing at the fellow keenly, and half liking his appearance. "This is a rather unusual hour for a visit, it "Yes," man "For the lateness of the hour I must apologise, but my trains did not fit, and was compelled to walk from Shrewsbury." He spoke a refined voice, and bearing was not that of person intended to assistance. possessed quick insight into and could sum up a man as sharply and correctly as a lawyer with a wide experience criminals. "And your business with asked master of Wroxeter. glanced suspiciously at the door by entered, and asked: "Are we alone? Do you there can be any eavesdroppers?" "Certainly not. But cannot understand why your business should be of a purely private character. You are entirely unknown to me, and I understand that you give a card." He the last words a touch sarcasm, the man's was not such as would warrant the casual observer in believing to be possessed of that mark of gentility. "Of course unknown you, Mr. Chisholm. although unknown to you person, am probably known to name." he from rather pocket-book a folded paper, he handed to Dudley. "This will, I think, satisfy at it, and started quickly. Then he fixed eyes upon his visitor in boundless surprise. man before him smiled faintly at the impression which the sight of document had paper was headed with the British arms in and contained only three written over a signature he
 with the easy
manner of a gentlEman.  His oveRcoat Of sHabBy Grey irisH frieze was
open, DIsplAying a coat and vest much tHe worSe FOr weAR, wHile hIs
up-turNEd TROusErS wEre SoDDeN by thE meLting snOw.

"I understAnd ThAt you wish, to sEE mE," Chisholm bEgaN, glancing at tHe
fEllow kEeNly, ANd not HalF likiNg his aPPearanCe.  "This is a RaTHer
unuSUal hour FOR a VisiT, is it not?"

"Yes," the man REpLIed.  "For the latenEss of tHe HOuR i MusT apOlogise,
but My TrainS Did not fIT, aND i Was COmpelled to walK from ShrewsBUry."
he spokE iN a rEFined vOice, aNd HIs bEaring was noT thaT of a persoN
who inTEnded to ASk assisTance.  DUdlEy pOsseSSeD a QuiCk INsiGHt IntO
ChaRacter, anD cOuLd sum Up a mAN AS SharPly And cOrrecTly as a lawyer
wIth A widE ExpErienCe of cRimiNaLs.

"And What maY your BuSiness be with me?" aSked The master Of WRoXetEr.

the maN GlanceD suSpiCiously At the doOR by WhICH duDley had entered,
and aSkED:

"arE we alone?  do you tHInK tHEre can poSsIblY be aNY EavesDropPErS?"

"CertainLy not.  BUT I CaNnot undErStand wHy YouR buSinesS ShouLd be of
Such a purEly prIVate character.  YOU are entirely uNKnOWN tO Me, anD I
uNderstand thAt yoU RefuSed tO GiVe a CArd."  He UtterEd THe LAst words
with a slight ToUch of sArcasM, for the man's apPearance waS NOT such as
wOuld WArRAnt the casual obServeR in believiNG him to be PosseSsed of
thAt mark of gENTility.

"Of CouRse i am UnkNOWn To you, Mr. ChishoLM.  but aLtHough unKnoWn to
you In pErsOn, I Am pRoBably knowN to you by NaMe."  as He SpoKe, he
sELected frOm His RaTheR shabBY pockeT-book A folDeD pAPer, Which he
HAnDED to DUdLeY.  "ThiS crEdEntiaL wilL, i thInk, satiSfy you."

DudLey TOok iT, gLaNced at iT, and started quIcKly.  Then he fIxEd hIs
eyes UPOn his visItor in boundless surprise.  tHe man beForE him sMileD
faintly aT thE impreSsiON which The sigHt of tHaT doCUMent hAD CaUseD.
THe paper was HEAdeD with ThE BriTish armS in scarlet, and contaINed
Only three lineS wrItteN OVeR a sIGnATurE hE
 with the easy
manner of a  gentleman .  Hi s o ver co at o f sh abby grey Iris h  fri eze was
open, displayi ng aco a t an d  v est m uch the wo r s e f or  w ear ,w hi le hi s
u p-turne d trousers  we re  sodden by t h emelting sn ow. 

"I underst and  thatyo u w i sh, t o s ee me ," Chi s holm b egan, gla nc i ng att he
fell o w  k eenl y, and not half l i ki n g his appearan ce.  " Th i si s  arat her
unusua lhourf or a vi s it , i s i t  not?"

"Yes, " the man r e pli ed.  " Fo r t h e late nessof the  hour I mus t ap ologise,but my trainsd id notfit, a ndI w as c o mp el led  t o  wa l kfro m  Sh rewsbury ." 
H e spo ke i n a refi ned  voi ce, a nd his bearin g w as n o t t hat o f a p erso nwho i ntende d toas k assistance. Dudl ey posses sed  a  qu ic k ins i ght in tocha racter,  and co u ldsu m u pa man as sharply a nd c or rectly a s a la w ye rw ith a wi de  ex peri e n ce of  cri m in als.

"A nd wha t  m ay  your b us inessbe  wi thme?"a sked  the m aster of  Wrox e ter.

The mang lanced suspic i ou s l ya t th e d oor by whic h Du d leyhade nt ere d ,
and  aske d: 
" A re we alone?  Do yo uthinkthere  can possibly  be any ea v e s droppers ?"
" Ce r tainly not.  B ut Icannot und e rstand w hy yo ur busin ess shoul d be of
su cha p ure lyp r iv ate character .  You  a re enti rel y unkno wntome,  an dI
underst and that  y ou  r ef use d tog ive a ca rd ." H e u ttere d  the l ast w ords 
w it h  aslightt ou c h  ofsa rc asm,  fo rthe m an's app earance  was notsuc h  aswo ul d warra nt the casual  o bserver in  b eli evingh i m to bepossessed of
that marko f genti lit y.

" Of c ourse I a m u nknown  to you, M r. Chi sholm . Bu t altho u g hunk no wn to
youi n  pe rson,  I  amprobabl y known to you byn ame ."  As he spo ke,  hes e le cte d  f r omhi s  ra t h er shabby pocke t-book a f ol d ed  paper, wh i chhe 
handed  to Dud ley."This c redential  will, Ith ink, s ati sfy you."
Dudleytook it,g lance d  a t it,  an d star te d q uickl y.  Th e n h e fix ed his 
e yes up on hi svisitorin boundless surprise. The m an be for e him smi led fai ntly at t he i mpressionwhi chthe s igh t  of t hatd oc ume n t had  cau s ed.
The p a pe r w a s  h eaded witht h e  Br itish  ar m s in s carl et, and contained only three lin es w r i tte n o v er a  s ignature he
 with_the easy
manner_of a gentleman. _His overcoat_of_shabby grey_Irish_frieze was
open, displaying_a coat and_vest much the worse_for wear, while_his
up-turned_trousers were sodden by the melting snow.

"I understand that you wish, to see me,"_Chisholm_began, glancing_at_the
fellow_keenly, and not half liking_his appearance.  "This is_a rather
unusual_hour for a visit, is it not?"

"Yes," the_man_replied.  "For_the lateness of the hour I must apologise,
but my_trains did not fit, and I_was compelled to_walk_from_Shrewsbury."
He spoke in a_refined voice, and his bearing was_not that of a person
who intended_to ask assistance.  Dudley possessed a_quick insight into
character, and could sum_up a man as sharply_and correctly_as a lawyer
with a wide_experience of criminals.

"And_what may_your business be_with me?" asked the master of_Wroxeter.

The man glanced_suspiciously at the door by which_Dudley_had entered,
and asked:

"Are_we_alone?_ Do_you think there_can_possibly be_any_eavesdroppers?"

"Certainly not.  But I cannot_understand_why your business should be of
such a_purely private character. _You_are entirely unknown to_me, and I
understand that you_refused to give a card." _He uttered_the last_words
with a slight touch of sarcasm, for the man's appearance was_not such as
would warrant the casual_observer in believing him_to be_possessed_of
that mark of_gentility.

"Of_course I_am unknown to you, Mr. Chisholm. _But although_unknown to
you in person, I am_probably known to you_by_name."  As he spoke, he
selected_from his rather shabby pocket-book a_folded paper, which he
handed to_Dudley.__"This credential will, I think,_satisfy you."

Dudley took it, glanced at_it, and started_quickly.  Then he fixed his
eyes upon_his_visitor in boundless surprise.  The_man_before him smiled
faintly at the impression_which_the_sight of that document had_caused.
The paper was headed with the_British arms in scarlet, and contained
only three lines written_over a signature_he