singular cloak in which hypnotically he had enwrapped me seemed
to drop, and I found myself clutching the edge of the table and
staring into the gray face of the speaker.

I became suddenly aware of the babel of voices about me, of the
noisome smell of Malay Jack's, and of the presence of Jack in
person, who was inquiring if there were any further orders. I
was conscious of nausea.

"Excuse me," I said, rising unsteadily, "but I fear the
oppressive atmosphere is affecting me."

"If you prefer to go out," said my acquaintance, in that deep
voice which throughout the dreadful story had rendered me
oblivious of my surroundings, "I should be much favoured if you
would accompany me to a spot not five hundred yards from here."

Seeing me hesitate:

"I have a particular reason for asking," he added.

"Very well," I replied, inclining my head, "if you wish it. But
certainly I must seek the fresh air."

Going up the steps and out through the door above which the blue
lantern burned, we came to the street, turned to the left, to the
left again, and soon were threading that maze of narrow ways
which complicates the map of Pennyfields.

I felt somewhat recovered. Here, in the narrow but familiar