Chapter 2 Not from Captain Hastings' Personal Narrative¹

Mr. Alexander Bonaparte Cust rose from his seat and peered near—sightedly round the shabby bedroom. His back was stiff from sitting in a cramped² position and as he stretched himself to his full height an on—looker would have realized that he was, in reality, quite a tall man. His stoop and his near—sighted peering gave a delusive³ impression.
Going to a well—worn overcoat hanging on the back of the door, he took from the pocket a packet of cheap cigarettes and some matches. He lit a cigarette and then returned to the table at which he had been sitting. He picked up a railway guide and consulted it, then he returned to the consideration of a typewritten list of names. With a pen, he made a tick against one of the first names on the list.
It was Thursday, June 20th.

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