The mirror was cracked across; the dressing-table had lost a leg; and both lay flat, with my brushes and shaving-table, and the foolish toilet crockery which no one uses (but I should have to replace) strewn upon the carpet.

But one thing I found that had not been there before: under the window lay a formidable sheath-knife without its sheath.

I picked it up with something of a thrill, which did not lessen when I felt its edge.

The thing was diabolically sharp.

I took it with me to show my neighbor, whom I found giving his order to the boots; it seemed that it was barely midnight, and that he had only just come in when the clatter took place in my room.
"Hillo!" he cried, when the man was gone, and I produced my trophy.
"Why, what the mischief have you got there ?" "My caller's card," said I."He left it behind him.