usual, remarking before he started that he had two important commissions to

perform, and that he would bring his little boy home a box of bricks. Now, by

the merest chance, his wife received a telegram upon this same Monday, very

shortly after his departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable

value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the offices of the

Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up in your London, you will

know that the office of the company is in Fresno Street, which branches out of

Upper Swandam Lane, where you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch,

started for the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company’s

office, got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through

Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me so

far?”


“It is very clear.”


“If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Clair

walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, as she did not like

the neighbourhood in which she found herself. While she was walking in this way

down Swandam Lane, she suddenly heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck

cold to see her husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning

to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she distinctly saw

his face, which she describes as being terribly agitated. He waved his hands

frantically to her, and then vanished from the window so suddenly that it

seemed to her that he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from

behind. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that

although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town in, he had on

neither collar nor necktie.


“Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the

steps—for the house was none other than the opium den in which you found

me to-night—and running through the front room she attempted to ascend