He saw him press through, give up his ticket, and disappear without so much as a backward glance.
There was something so ridiculous in this anticlimax to his poignant fears that the young man was for the moment actually exasperated.

But his face and linen were wet with perspiration.

Then a great feeling of relief swept over him like a cooling wave.

He followed in the wake of the other passengers and emerged from the station into the street.
It was early enough for the shops to be still open, but the streets were thronged with pleasure-seekers going to restaurants and places of amusement.

As he stood there a painted girl touched him on the arm with an enticing smile for such wares as she had to sell, and her solicitation awakened him sharply to the folly of standing in the lighted Strand at that hour in full view of every passing policeman.