The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind anda driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking fromBramblehurst railway station, and carrying a little black portmanteau in histhickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of hissoft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose; thesnow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crestto the burden he carried. He staggered into the “Coach and Horses”more dead than alive, and flung his portmanteau down. “A fire,” hecried, “in the name of human charity! A room and a fire!” Hestamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar, and