A man with a red tie is very easily distinguishable, and I flatter
myself that I possess a very keen eyesight; yet though minute after
minute went by till it was already a quarter-past the hour, still no man
answering the description given by the late Mr Arnold put in an
appearance.
Presently, on the opposite platform, the express from Plymouth to
Bristol came in; and suspecting that he might arrive by it, I dashed up
the stairs, two steps at a time, and across the footbridge. When
halfway down the stairs I halted, for I could see all over the
up-platform.
Few passengers had alighted, but among them I instantly discerned a man
wearing a cravat of scarlet satin. He was smartly dressed in a grey
lounge-suit, and in his coat he wore a pink carnation. In his hand was
an old-fashioned black ebony cane with silver knob.
He was standing looking up and down the platform, as though in search of
somebody. Therefore I sped down the remaining stairs and quickly
approached him, though I had not seen his face distinctly.
Suddenly, as I was within six yards of him, I recollected the dead man's
written words, and halted short.
He was still wearing grey suede gloves. He had not removed them;
therefore he was suspicious of being watched!
I lit another cigarette, and with careless air sauntered past him in
order to gain a good view of his features.
He was, I saw, of middle height, and aged about fifty. His clean-shaven
face, with heavy, square jaws, was pimply and rather bloated--a face
which somehow filled me with repugnance, for it was the countenance of
one who was a fast liver and who indulged a little too freely in
alcohol. His grey suit, grey soft felt hat, and grey gloves gave to him
a certain air of smartness and distinction; yet those small brown eyes,
with a peculiar, indescribable expression searching up and down the
platform, were the eyes of a man full of craft and double cunning.
From the first moment I turned my gaze upon him I held him in distinct
suspicion; while he, it appeared, in turn held somebody else in
suspicion. I looked around, but could not discern anybody who might
arouse his misgivings. About us were all honest Devon folk.
The fact that he had not taken off his gloves still remained. My
injunctions were not to approach him if he failed to remove them. He
had the air of a _bon vivant_, even to the manner in which he tucked his
ebony cane beneath his arm in order to light a choice cigar.
Most of the passengers crossed the bridge on their way out, while others
made their exit by the little wicket, some of them entering the dusty
motor-'bus which plies to Paignton.
Once, only once, his small narrow brown eyes met mine, and I saw in them
a look of quick inquiry and shrewd cunning.
Then, still wearing his gloves as sign to me to hold aloof, he leisurely
crossed the bridge to the down-platform, and strolled along the hot,
dusty road into the town.