The fat little man was staring through him at the open door. It was fairly obvious that he saw and heard nothing to account for it. He looked ready to scream.

Hilary considered. Would it be more tactful to close the door again, or leave it as it was? He backed out uncertainly into the passage. The little man pulled himself together with an effort, got out of bed and slammed the door to. He wore a nightshirt.

Hilary stole away down the passage, guiltily. One must be more careful. One mustn’t go barging in and out of places like this. At the same time, it would be nice to find a vacant room to spend the night in.

A line of light under the next door on the right showed that that room too was occupied. A peek through the keyhole of the one beyond proved the same.

At last he came to a room that was dark. Cautiously now he turned the knob and with a glance over his shoulder at the empty passage peered round the edge of the door. Light from a street-lamp outside showed the curtains undrawn and the bed not turned down. He nipped inside and shot the bolt on himself.

It was all very embarrassing.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE morning was sunny and warm. For a long time he stood at the window which faced towards the treetops in the Mall. Breakfast? Apparently he had no need for breakfast, and he knew a passing regret for the lost flavor of bacon and coffee, and the deep satisfaction of the first pipe of the day. Odd, the things that were left to him and the things that were taken away. He had a desire to look at flower-beds and green lawns, and get himself sorted out. There would be roses in bloom over beyond the Achilles, and perhaps delphiniums. One could always get a lot of thinking done along the side of the Serpentine....

The truth was, he felt timid about going out into broad daylight. He told himself grimly that he could not stay locked up in a room at the club for the rest of time. No one had seen him last night. No one would see him now. But it would be only tactful to manage so that no one got unnecessary shocks. The thing was to get out while it was still early. In the Park it wouldn’t matter. He could walk on the grass and look at the flowers.