"Your experience is, so far as I know, perfectly unique," said he. "May I ask, sir, what you did then?"
"I was furious. My first idea was that I had been the victim of some absurd practical joke.
I packed my things, banged the hall door behind me, and set off for Esher, with my bag in my hand.
I called at Allan Brothers', the chief land agents in the village, and found that it was from this firm that the villa had been rented.
It struck me that the whole proceeding could hardly be for the purpose of making a fool of me, and that the main objet must be to get out of the rent.
It is late in March, so quarter-day is at hand.
But this theory would not work.
The agent was obliged to me for my warning, but told me that the rent had been paid in advance.
Then I made my way to town and called at the Spanish embassy.
The man was unknown there.