He had left his meal unfinished, and returned to his chambers to seek consolation, not in prayer, but in his collection of old clocks and watches.

In the dusk he had set out his greatest treasures--the gold sun-dial, a lamp clock, an early French watch in blue enamel, and a bed repeating clock in a velvet case.

But the solace had failed him for once.

Even the magic name of Dan Quare on the jewelled face of the repeater failed to stir his collector's heart.
His regard for Robert Turold was deep and sincere.

His dead client had been his ideal of a strong man.