and then rang again, with a like result. Then he came to
the lighted window.

It was a French window, only half closed, and a half turned lamp showed
a comfortably furnished room and a table laid out for supper.

Two places were set. A cold fowl intact on a dish garnished with parsley
stood side by side with a York ham the worse for wear, a salad, a roll
of cowslip coloured butter, a loaf of home-made bread and a cheese
tucked around with a snow-white napkin made up the rest of the eatables
whilst a decanter of claret shone invitingly by the seat of the carver.
There was nothing wanting, or only the invitation.

The fowl supplied that.

Jones pushed the window open and entered. Half closing it again, he took
his seat at the table placing his hat on the floor beside him. Taking a
sovereign from his pocket, he placed it on the white cloth. Then he fell
to.

You can generally tell a man by his claret, and judging from this claret
the unknown who had supplied the feast must have been a most estimable
man.

A man of understanding and parts, a man not to be deluded by specious
wine lists, a generous warmhearted and full-blooded soul--and here he
was.

A step sounded on the verandah, the window was pushed open and a man of
forty years or so, well-dressed, tall, thin, dark and saturnine stood
before the feaster.

He showed no surprise. Removing his hat he bowed.

Jones half rose.

"Hello," said he confusedly, with his mouth full--then he subsided into
his chair.

"I must apologise for being late," said the tall man, placing his hat on
a chair, rubbing his long hands together and moving to the vacant seat.
"I was unavoidably detained. But I'm glad you did not wait supper."

He took his seat, spread his napkin on his knees, and poured himself out
a glass of claret. His eyes were fixed on the sovereign lying upon the
cloth. He had noted it from the first. Jones picked it up and put it in
his pocket.

"That's right," said the unknown. Then as if in reply to a question: "I
will have a wing, please."

Jones cut a wing of the fowl, placed it in the extra plate which he had
placed on one side of the table and presented it. The other cut himself
some bread, helped himself to salad, salt and pepper and started eating,
absolutely as though nothing unusual had occurred or was occurring.

For half a minute or so neither spoke. Then Jones said:

"Look here," said he, "I want to make some explanations."

"Explanations,"