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Three days later On a cold afternoon just as the wintry light was fading a tall, dark, ed, rather handso a well-cut, dark-grey overcoat and green velour hat, alighted froh, in Surrey, and inquired of the porter the way to Shapley Manor

"Shapley, sir? Why, take the road there yonder up the hill till you get to the 's Back froet on the ate, and you'll find the Manor on the left in a cluer, the only passenger who had alighted, slipped sixpence into the man's hand, buttoned his coat, and started out to walk in the direction indicated, breasting the keen east wind

He ell-set-up, and of athletic bearing He took long strides as with swinging gait he went up the hill As he did so, he muttered to himself: "I was an infernal fool not to have come down in a car! I hate these beastly muddy country roads But Molly has the telephone--so I can ring up for a car to fetch me--which is a consolation, after all"

And with his keen eyes set before him, he pressed forward up the steep incline to where, for ten e known as the Hog's Back The road is very popular with h is it that on either side there stretches a wide panora towards the Thames Valley and London, while on the south Hindhead with the South Downs in the blue distance show beyond

Having reached the high road the stranger paused to take breath, and incidentally to adnificent view Indeed, an expression of ad for another half-ht rapidly co on, until he caravelled drive to a large, but so square s In parts the ivy was trying to hide its terribly ugly architecture for around the deep porch it grew thickly and spread around one corner of the building

A ring at the door brought a younghiood afternoon, asked if Mrs Bond were at home