On alighting at his journey's end he was seized with a fit of
shivering, an intense and sudden chill which made his teeth
chatter. In an endeavour to overcome this he began to run towards
the row of cabs, but his legs refused such exercise, and coughing
compelled him to pause for breath. Still shaking, he threw
himself into a vehicle and was driven to the address Amy had
mentioned. The snow on the ground lay thick, but no more was
falling.
Heedless of the direction which the cab took, he suffered his
physical and mental unrest for another quarter of an hour, then a
stoppage told him that the house was reached. On his way he had
heard a clock strike eleven.
The door opened almost as soon as he had rung the bell. He
mentioned his name, and the maid-servant conducted him to a
drawing-room on the ground-floor. The house was quite a small
one, but seemed to be well furnished. One lamp burned on the
table, and the fire had sunk to a red glow. Saying that she would
inform Mrs Reardon at once, the servant left him alone.
He placed his bag on the floor, took off his muffler, threw back
his overcoat, and sat waiting.
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