overhead, high above the roof of the late Sir Charles Abingdon;
and as he watched its stealthy approach it seemed to Paul Harley
to be the symbol of that dread in which latterly Sir Charles's
life had lain, beneath which he had died, and which now was
stretching out, mysterious and menacing, over himself.



CHAPTER IV. INTRODUCING MR. NICOL BRINN

At about nine o'clock on the same evening, a man stood at a large
window which overlooked Piccadilly and the Green Park. The room
to which the window belonged was justly considered one of the
notable sights of London and doubtless would have received
suitable mention in the "Blue Guide" had the room been accessible
to the general public. It was, on the contrary, accessible only
to the personal friends of Mr. Nicol Brinn. As Mr. Nicol Brinn
had a rarely critical taste in friendship, none but a fortunate
few had seen the long room with its two large windows overlooking
Piccadilly.

The man at the window was interested in a car which, approaching
from the direction of the Circus, had slowed down immediately
opposite and now was being turned, the chauffeur's apparent
intention being to pull up at the door below. He had seen the
face of the occupant and had recognized it even from that
elevation. He was interested; and since only unusual things
aroused any semblance of interest in the man who now stood at the
window, one might have surmised that there was something unusual
about the present visitor, or in his having decided to call at