This was a strange communication, and for a moment or two I was disposed to regard it as a stupid joke. But, somehow or other, when I had read it and re-read it, it struck me as being terribly earnest. I therefore caught the next train back to London and hurried to the address given, but I did not reach it until nearly six o’clock. The people of the house told me in answer to my inquiries that they believed their lodger, Mr. Newton, was in his room, but they hadn’t seen him for some hours. He was an exceedingly quiet gentleman, they said, and gave them very little trouble.
The landlady was going upstairs to his room to inform him that somebody wanted him; but I stopped her by saying:
“If you will show me the room I will announce myself.” She did this. I half expected to find the door loc
