Valentine opened the damp iron gate, and they walked up the paved alley to the door.
CHAPTER IV
THE EUSTON ROAD EPISODE
Opening the door, they found themselves in a squalid passage. A room on the left was fronted by a sort of counter, above which was a long window giving onto the passage, and as the shrill tinkle of a bell announced their entrance this window was pushed up, and the large red face and furtive observant eyes of a man stared upon them inquiringly.
"Do you require a room for the night?" he asked, in a husky voice, invaded by a strong French accent. "Because—"
"No," interrupted Julian.
The man nodded, and, strange to say, with apparent content.
"There is trouble in my house," he said. "I am unlucky; I come to England from my country to earn an honest living, and before two years, I have the police here last night."
"Yes," said Julian, "I know."
"What? You know it? Well, it is not my fault. The gentleman come last night with a lady, his wife, I suppose. How am I to know? He ask for a room. He look perfectly well. I give them the room. They go to bed. At four o'clock in the morning I hear a bell ring. I get up. I go on the landing to listen. I hear the bell again. I run to the chamber of the lady and gentleman. The lady is gone. The gentleman falls back on the bed as I come in and dies. Mon Dieu! It is—"