The great lady laughed delightedly. This had the real capriccio flavour. ‘Wait,’ she said, and she ran into the sitting-room. She was back again in a moment with an oblong of pasteboard. ‘There,’ she said, and dropped it into his great-coat pocket. Then blowing a kiss she was gone.
The Complete Man closed the door and descended the stairs. Well, well, he said to himself; well, well. He put his hand in his coat pocket and took out the card. In the dim light of the staircase he read the name on it with some difficulty. Mrs James—but no, but no. He read again, straining his eyes; there was no question of it. Mrs James Shearwater.
Mrs James Shearwater.
That was why he had vaguely known the name of Bloxam Gardens.
Mrs James Shear—. Step after step he descended, ponderously. ‘Good Lord,’ he
