As he had no money,
his only course was to inquire for a room at some house in the
immediate neighbourhood, where the people would receive him in a
charitable spirit.
With the aid of the police he passed to where the crowd was
thinner, and came out into Cleveland Street. Here most of the
house-doors were open, and he made several applications for
hospitality, but either his story was doubted or his grimy
appearance predisposed people against him. At length, when again
his strength was all but at an end, he made appeal to a
policeman.
'Surely you can tell,' he protested, after explaining his
position, 'that I don't want to cheat anybody. I shall have money
to-morrow. If no one will take me in you must haul me on some
charge to the police-station; I shall have to lie down on the
pavement in a minute.'
The officer recognised a man who was standing half-dressed on a
threshold close by; he stepped up to him and made representations
which were successful. In a few minutes Biffen took possession of
an underground room furnished as a bedchamber, which he agreed to
rent for a week.
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