the lamp…post and joined her。
I was due at a bachelor gathering that evening； and after dinner；
the affair being fresh in my mind； I talked about it。 I am not
sure； but I think it was in connection with a discussion on
Maeterlinck。 It was that sudden lifting of the blind that had
caught hold of me。 As if； blundering into an empty theatre； I had
caught a glimpse of some drama being played in secret。 We passed to
other topics； and when I was leaving a fellow guest asked me which
way I was going。 I told him； and； it being a fine night； he
proposed that we should walk together。 And in the quiet of Harley
Street he confessed that his desire had not been entirely the
pleasure of my company。
〃It is rather curious；〃 he said； 〃but today there suddenly came to
my remembrance a case that for nearly eleven years I have never
given a thought to。 And now； on top of it； comes your description
of that woman's face。 I am wondering if it can be the same。〃
〃It was the eyes；〃 I said； 〃that struck me as so remarkable。〃
〃It was the eyes that I chiefly remember her by；〃 he replied。
〃Would you know the street again？〃
We walked a little while in silence。
〃It may seem； perhaps； odd to you；〃 I answered； 〃but it would
trouble me； the idea of any harm coming to her through me。 What was
the case？〃
〃You can feel quite safe on that point；〃 he assured me。 〃I was her
counselthat is； if it is the same woman。 How was she dressed？〃
I could not see the reason for his question。 He could hardly expect
her to be wearing the clothes of eleven years ago。
〃I don't think I noticed；〃 I answered。 〃Some sort of a blouse； I
suppose。〃 And then I recollected。 〃Ah； yes； there was something
uncommon；〃 I added。 〃An unusually broad band of velvet； it looked
like； round her neck。〃
〃I thought so；〃 he said。 〃Yes。 It must be the same。〃
We had reached Marylebone Road； where our ways parted。
〃I will look you up to…morrow afternoon； if I may；〃 he said。 〃We
might take a stroll round together。〃
He called on me about half…past five； and we reached the street just
as the one solitary gas…lamp had been lighted。 I pointed out the
house to him； and he crossed over and looked at the number。
〃Quite right；〃 he said； on returning。 〃I made inquiries this
morning。 She was released six weeks ago on ticket…of…leave。〃
He took my arm。
〃Not much use hanging about；〃 he said。 〃The blind won't go up
to…night。 Rather a clever idea； selecting a house just opposite a
lamp…post。〃
He had an engagement that evening； but later on he told me the
storythat is； so far as he then knew it。
* * *
It was in the early days of the garden suburb movement。 One of the
first sites chosen was off the Finchley Road。 The place was in the
building； and one of the streetsLaleham Gardenshad only some
half a dozen houses in it； all unoccupied save one。 It was a
lonely； loose end of the suburb； terminating suddenly in open
fields。 From the unfinished end of the road the ground sloped down
somewhat steeply to a pond； and beyond that began a small wood。 The
one house occupied had been bought by a young married couple named
Hepworth。
The husband was a good…looking； pleasant young fellow。 Being
clean…shaven； his exact age was difficult to judge。 The wife； it
was quite evident； was little more than a girl。 About the man there
was a suggestion of weakness。 At least； that was the impression
left on the mind of the house…agent。 To…day he would decide； and
to…morrow he changed his mind。 Jetson； the agent； had almost given
up hope of bringing off a deal。 In the end it was Mrs。 Hepworth
who； taking the matter into her own hands； fixed upon the house in
Laleham Gardens。 Young Hepworth found fault with it on the ground
of its isolation。 He himself was often away for days at a time；
travelling on business； and was afraid she would be nervous。 He had
been very persistent on this point； but in whispered conversations
she had persuaded him out of his objection。 It was one of those
pretty； fussy little houses； and it seemed to have taken her fancy。
Added to which； according to her argument； it was just within their
means； which none of the others were。 Young Hepworth may have given
the usual references； but if so they were never taken up。 The house
was sold on the company's usual terms。 The deposit was paid by a
cheque； which was duly cleared； and the house itself was security
for the rest。 The company's solicitor； with Hepworth's consent；
acted for both parties。
It was early in June when the Hepworths moved in。 They furnished
only one bedroom； and kept no servant； a charwoman coming in every
morning and going away about six in the evening。 Jetson was their
nearest neighbour。 His wife and daughters called on them； and
confess to have taken a liking to them both。 Indeed； between one of
the Jetson girls； the youngest； and Mrs。 Hepworth there seems to
have sprung up a close friendship。 Young Hepworth； the husband； was
always charming； and evidently took great pains to make himself
agreeable。 But with regard to him they had the feeling that he was
never altogether at his ease。 They described himthough that； of
course； was after the eventas having left upon them the impression
of a haunted man。
There was one occasion in particular。 It was about ten o'clock。
The Jetsons had been spending the evening with the Hepworths； and
were just on the point of leaving； when there came a sudden； clear
knock at the door。 It turned out to be Jetson's foreman； who had to
leave by an early train in the morning； and had found that he needed
some further instructions。 But the terror in Hepworth's face was
unmistakable。 He had turned a look towards his wife that was almost
of despair； and it had seemed to the Jetsonsor； talking it over
afterwards； they may have suggested the idea to each otherthat
there came a flash of contempt into her eyes； though it yielded the
next instant to an expression of pity。 She had risen； and already
moved some steps towards the door； when young Hepworth had stopped
her； and gone out himself。 But the curious thing was that；
according to the foreman's account； Hepworth never opened the front
door； but came upon him stealthily from behind。 He must have
slipped out by the back and crept round the house。
The incident had puzzled the Jetsons； especially that involuntary
flash of contempt that had come into Mrs。 Hepworth's eyes。 She had
always appeared to adore her husband； and of the two； if possible；
to be the one most in love with the other。 They had no friends or
acquaintances except the Jetsons。 No one else among their
neighbours had taken the trouble to call on them； and no stranger to
the suburb had； so far as was known； ever been seen in Laleham
Gardens。
Until one evening a little before Christmas。
Jetson was on his way home from his office in the Finchley Road。
There had been a mist hanging about all day； and with nightfall it
had settled down into a whitish fog。 Soon after leaving the
Finchley Road； Jetson noticed in front of him a man wearing a long；
yellow mackintosh； and some sort of soft felt hat。 He gave Jetson
the idea of being a sailor； it may have been merely the stiff；
serviceable mackintosh。 At the corner of Laleham Gardens the man
turned； and glanced up at the name upon the lamp…post； so that
Jetson had a full view of him。 Evidently it was the street for
which he was looking。 Jetson； somewhat curious； the Hepworths'
house being still the only one occupied； paused at the corner； and
watched。 The Hepworths' house was； of course； the only one in the
road that showed any light。 The man； when he came to the gate；
struck a match for the purpose of reading the number。 Satisfied it
was the house he wanted； he pushed open the gate and went up the
path。
But； instead of using the bell or knocker； Jetson was surprised to
hear him give three raps on the door with his stick。 There was no
answer； and Jetson； whose interest was now thoroughly aroused；
crossed to the other corner； from where he could command a better
view。 Twice the man repeated his three raps on the door； each time
a little louder； and the third time the door was opened。 Jetson
could not tell by whom； for whoever it was kept behind it。
He could just see one wall of the passage； with a pair of old naval
cutlasses crossed above the picture of a three…masted schooner that
he knew hung there。 The door was opened just sufficient； and the
man slipped in； and the door was closed behind him。 Jetson had
turned to continue his way； when the fancy seized him to give one
glance back。 The house was in complete darkness； though a moment
before Jetson was positive there had been a light in the ground
floor window。
It all sounded very important afterwards； but at the time there was
nothing to suggest to Jetson anything very much out of the common。
Because for six months no friend or relation had called to see them；
that was no reason why one never should。 In the fog； a stranger may
have thought it simpler to knock at the door with his stick than to
fumble in search of a bell。 The Hepworths lived c