Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/299

 not a word. Late the same night Sidney penned a letter to Michael Snowdon. In the morning he read it over, and instead of putting it into an envelope, locked it away in one of his drawers.

When the evening for his visit to Hanover Street again came round he again absented himself, this time just calling to leave word with the servant that business kept him away. The business was that of walking aimlessly about Clerkenwell, in mud and fog. About ten o’clock he came to Farringdon Road Buildings, and with a glance up towards the Hewetts’ window he was passing by when a hand clutched at him. Turning, he saw the face of John Hewett, painfully disturbed, strained in some wild emotion.

“Sidney! Come this way; I want to speak to you.”

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“Come over here. Sidney,—I’ve found my girl,—I’ve found Clara!”