"Then you won't be surprised at anything you may read in the papers in the course of the next few days."
Mr. Barker winked and laid a finger against one side of his nose. As an action it was vulgar, but expressive.
Mr. James nodded and smiled the same curious smile.
"Good-morning, Mr. Barker," he said. "Good-morning. I'll leave this empty bag till next time I call."
"Which I hope will be before very long, eh, Mr. James? Always happy to accommodate you, you know."
"We shall see what we shall see. And so, once more, good-morning." He went without another word, closing the green baize door behind him. A minute later he found himself in the street.
Mr. James Hazeldine walked on till he was overtaken by an empty cab. This he hailed, and was driven westward. Although he had told Mr. Barker that he never drank before dinner, he now went into a tavern in the Strand, and called for a tumbler of hot brandy and water and then for another, both of which he drank in less than five minutes. In truth, he looked very haggard and ill. During the next half hour he wandered up and down the Strand in a purposeless sort of way, staring into the shop windows, but having no thought or interest in anything he saw there. More than once he took a letter out of the breast pocket of his coat, read the address over to himself, and then put it back again. At length, spying a pillar-box in a side street, he walked slowly up to it and again took out the letter. It was directed as under:
"Edward Hazeldine, Esq.,
"The Brewery,
"Beecham by Ashdown,