specimen of an immortal soul, with a bloated face, a
pendulous stomach, and a week's growth of beard on his dirty chin. A
short black pipe was thrust upside down in his mouth, and his attire
consisted of a shirt open at the neck, a pair of trousers upheld by no
visible support, and a pair of old slippers. Apparently satisfied from
his prolonged inspection of the two visitors that they were not in
search of lodgings, he replied in a surly tone:

"What the hell's that to do with you? If you let us know when you're
coming we'll keep open all night--I don't think."

Caldew pushed past him without deigning to parley, and opened a door
adjoining the entrance pigeon-hole. A man was seated at the table
within, reckoning the night's takings by the light of a candle. It was
strange to see one so near the grave counting coppers with such avid
greed. His withered old face was long and yellow, and the prominent
cheekbones and fallen cheeks gave it a coffinlike shape. His sunken
little eyes were almost lost to view beneath bushy overhanging eyebrows,
and from his shrunken mouth a single black tusk protruded upward, as
though bent on reaching the tip of a long sharp nose. He started up from
his accounts in fright as the door was flung open, and thrust a hand in
a drawer near him, perhaps in quest of a weapon. Then he recognized
Caldew, and smiled the propitiatory smile of one who had reason to fear
the forces of authority.

"That chap you're after didn't turn up to-night," he mumbled.

"You're closing very early. He may come yet."

"Tain't no use if 'e do. 'E won't get in. All my reg'lars is in, and I
ain't going to waste light waiting for a chance eightpence. P'r'aps
you'd like to see the room where he slep' last night?"

Caldew nodded, and the lodging-house keeper, calling in the man they had
seen closing the door, directed him to show the gentlemen the single
room. The man lit a candle, and took the detectives upstairs to the top
of the house. He opened the door of a very small and filthy room, with
sloping ceiling and a broken window. A piece of dirty rag which had been
hung across the window flapped noisily as the rain beat through the
hole. The man held up the candle to enable the visitors to see the
apartment to the greatest advantage.

"We charge tuppence more for this bedroom because it's a single doss,"
he said, not without a touch of pride in his tone.

"And well worth the money," remarked Caldew.

"Look here, Mr