For six days he continued his inquiries, going out every evening
with his guide, and taking his meals, for the most part, at one or
other of the taverns, in hopes that he might happen upon the man of
whom he was in search. At the end of that time, he had a great
surprise. As he entered the hotel to take supper, the waiter said
to him:
"There is a gentleman who has been asking for you, in the public
room. He arrived an hour ago, and has hired a chamber."
"Asking for me?" Charlie repeated in astonishment. "You must be
mistaken."
"Not at all, sir. He asked for Mr. Charles Conway, and that is the
name you wrote down in the hotel book, when you came."
"That must be me, sure enough, but who can be asking for me I
cannot imagine. However, I shall soon know."
And, in a state of utter bewilderment as to who could have learnt
his name and address, he went into the coffee room. There happened,
at the moment, to be but one person there, and as he rose and
turned towards him, Charlie exclaimed in astonishment and delight:
"Why, Harry, what on earth brings you here? I am glad to see you,
indeed, but you are the last person in the world I should have
thought of meeting here in London."
"You thought I was in a hut, made as wind tight as possible, before
the cold set in, in earnest.
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