4. MARCH THE TWELFTHEdward received Owen's letter in due time, but on account of his
daily engagements he could not attend to any request till the clock
had struck five in the afternoon. Rushing then from his office in
Westminster, he called a hansom and proceeded to Hoxton. A few
minutes later he knocked at the door of number forty-one, Charles
Square, the old lodging of Mrs. Manston.
A tall man who would have looked extremely handsome had he not
been clumsily and closely wrapped up in garments that were much too
elderly in style for his years, stood at the corner of the quiet
square at the same instant, having, too, alighted from a cab, that
had been driven along Old Street in Edward's rear. He smiled
confidently when Springrove knocked.
Nobody came to the door. Springrove kn
