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 *nish ushered the stranger in but himself came no further than the door-sill.

"Here is a gentleman to see you, Laurence," said the instructor. "I was quite certain you were in, and so I brought him up."

Mr. Cornish smiled, nodded to the guest, who bowed impressively, and departed, closing the door behind him.

"Very glad indeed—" began Laurie.

"Have a seat, won't—" supplemented Ned.

"Thank you." The stranger again bowed and seated himself, placing a cane across his immaculately clad legs and balancing a somewhat square derby hat perilously atop. "I begin by offering you my apologies for this intrusion," he continued.

"Not necessary," mumbled Laurie, his gaze busy with the guest. The latter appeared to be about fifty, was under rather than over average height, and was very broad and thick and, like his derby, rather square of contour. He even had a distinctly square face which began very high up, because of the disappearance of what hair may have adorned the front of his head at