CHAPTER XIV.
October 7th.
At Paddington I came upon Sebastian Pasquale lounging about the arrival platform.

As I had not seen or heard of him since the end of July I had concluded that he was wandering as usual over the globe.

He greeted me effusively, holding out both hands in his foreign fashion.
"My dear old Ordeyne! who would have thought of meeting you here?
What wind blows you to Paddington ?" "I expect Carlotta by the Plymouth Express." "The fair Carlotta?
And how is she?
And what is she doing at Plymouth ?" In the middle of my explanation he pulled out his watch.
"By Jove! I must get to the next platform and catch my train to Ealing.
I was just killing time about the station.

I like seeing a train come in--the gleam and smoke and rush and whirr of the evil-looking thing--and the sudden metamorphosis of its sleek sides into mouths belching forth humanity.

I think of Hades.