Old man Wing propped up in his arm-chair sat by a small fire in the room which served as kitchen and dining-room. May was busy with her sewing. “My dear,” said the old man in his gentle voice. “I do not think you had better go out again to-night.” “Why not, grandpa?” asked the girl without looking up from her work. “Well, it is probably selfishness on my part,” he said, “but somehow I do not want to be left alone. I am expecting a visitor.” “A visitor!” Visitors were unusual at No. 9 Pexton Street, Hoxton. The only visitor they knew was the rent man who called with monotonous regularity every Monday morning. “Yes,” said her grandfather hesitatingly, “I think you remember the gentleman; you saw him some time ago.” “Not Mr. Standerton?” The old man shook his head. “No, not Mr. Standerton,” he said, “but you will recall how at Epsom a rather nice man helped you out of a crowd after a race?” “I remember,” she said. “His name is Wallis,” said the old man, “and I met him by accident to-day when I was shopping.” “Wallis,” she repeated. Old Wing was silent for a while, then he asked-- “Do you think, my dear, we could take a lodger?” “Oh, no,” protested the girl. “Please not!” “I find the rent rather heavy,” said her grandfather, shaking his head, “and this Mr. Wallis is a quiet sort of person and not likely to give us any trouble.” Still the girl was not satisfied. “I would rather we didn’t,” she said. “I am quite sure we can earn enough to keep the house going without that kind of assistance. Lodgers are nuisances. I do not suppose Mrs. Gamage would like it.” Mrs. Gamage was the faded neighbour who came in every morning to help straighten the house. The girl saw the old man’s face fall and went round to him, putting her arm around his shoulder. “Do not bother, grandpa dear,” she said, “if you want a lodger you shall have one. I think it would be rather nice to have somebody in the house who could talk to you when I am out.” There was a knock at the door. “That must be our visitor,” she said, and went to open it. She recognised the man who stood in the doorway. “May I come in?” he asked. “I wanted to see your grandfather on a matter of business. I suppose you are Miss Wing.” She nodded. “Come in,” she said, and led the way to the kitchen. “I will not keep you very long,” said Mr. Wallis. “No, thank you, I will stand while I am here. I want to find a quiet lodging for a friend of mine. At least,” he went on, “he is a man in whom I am rather interested, a very quiet sobersides individual who will be out most of the day, and possibly out most of the night too.” He smiled. “He is a----” He hesitated. “He is a taxi-cab driver, to be exact,” he said, “though he does not want this fact to be well known because he has seen--er--better days.” “We have only a very small room we can give your friend,” said May, “perhaps you would like to see it.”