Coincidence, I told myself, angry to feel the sweat leap out on my face and palms. Nonetheless, I had a second look in a moment, just as the thing was walking under the lamp. I was rewarded by a strange sight: in the flood of brilliant light I saw the puppet-body of the man all stark and clear and black, with the distorted form of the usurper about it flaming like a gaudy, transparent rainbow. It was an awesome spectacle, and sent the cauld grue racing up my backbone. "Alec," I hissed from the corner of my mouth. "I'm going to stop in a minute. Take a good look at the bloke that's following us." Then we halted, and to give us an excuse, I took out a cigarette and lit it. The monster passed us. I thought the moon-grayed protoplasm had a tinge of orange, which might indicate deep interest on the being's part, but I could not be sure. When it was out of hearing I said, "Anyone we know?" "It's a man from the restaurant," said Marion. "I noticed him looking at us as we ate. I thought he was flirting with me." "He gave you a damn hard stare, Will," said Alec. "Jerusalem!" I growled. "May be a coincidence, but--he's one of _them_ ... and I let him have a ruddy good look at me with that match!" "Could he have chased you from up north?" "No, no. Nobody followed me on the roads I took, son. But he and his gang have my description." I threw away the cigarette angrily. "'Course, I look like anybody else, but--" "You do not!" protested Marion. "You're very handsome, for one thing." Alec laughed briefly. "Well, maybe not that, Will, but you are individual enough to be spotted from a good description." I was astonished. I had never thought so. I said, "We've got to be careful, then. Can't let him see us go into The Gray Gander." * * * * * We walked past our inn. The creature had disappeared. We went on a short distance, and then I felt from the prickling of the hair on my neck that he was behind us again. So began a game of cat and mice, which took us around corners and fleeing through alleys until at last I felt we had lost our silent pursuer, and with a sigh we entered our tavern. I was awakened next morning, as I slept uneasily on Alec's couch, by Doctor John Baringer. He was puffing a pipe and grinning, but his eyes were shadowed. "What's up?" I asked. "Everybody but you ... Will, there's a lashing of people about in Baker Street. I don't know why I noticed 'em, especially, but they're there--just standing or sauntering, watching folk pass. It struck me queerly, and Alec tells me you were followed last night." I started to dress hurriedly. "Do they look like policemen?" "I wouldn't say so," John mused. "They're just ordinary people, men and women both, standing in the sun. I can't say I like it." "Nor I. Are they concentrated near the inn?" "No. Within a block or two, though; I didn't begin to notice them till I'd passed that restaurant where we ate last night."