The Argosy — page 200: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

188 A Secret of the Sea. presently to another part of the City, and came toa halt close against a taJl, substantial-looking house. It stood in a narrow way intended for foot passengers only, that led from one great artery of City traffic to another. One side of this footway was bounded by the blank wall of a range of huge warehouses that had their frontage in another street. ‘The opposite boundary of the footway consisted of a low stone wall, crowned with rusty railings, that shut in an ancient graveyard. ‘The church that once on a time had appertained to the graveyard had been demolished years ago, but the dilapidated tombstones, with their “ for- Jorn Hic jacets” all overgrown with rank and frowsy herbage, were still there, together with a miscellaneous assortment of old shoes and tubbish. As usual, it was Nobody’s business to bring about a different state of things, and Nobody did his business thoroughly by leaving it altogether undone. The house to which Byrne had brought his companions was built into the graveyard, and its front door was in a line with the raised wall already spoken of. It was an old-fashioned, substantially-built house, and had doubtless at one time been the residence of the rector or of some other functionary connected with the church that was no longer there. From the windows, both back and front, the view must have been dismal in the extreme. To-night the whole house looked as dark and deserted as the graveyard.in which it stood. Not asingle glimmer of light was visible in any of its windows. Byrne, after taking a cautious look round, drew his companions forward. There was a square brass plate let into the door, on which, by the light of a lamp near hand, they all three read these words : Max Van DUREN. . General Agent, &c. “He has changed his name!” said Murray, turning suddenly on Byme. “There’s nothing in that,” said Byrne with a shrug. “ In London one comes across queerer changes every day.” (70 be continued.) ecomniclooolkks _ (CO)