"In some way we struck up quite a friendship, this young fellow and I.
He seemed to take a fancy to me from the first, and within two days of our meeting he came to see me at Lee.
One thing led to another, and it ended in his inviting me out to spend a few days at his house, Wisteria Lodge, between Esher and Oxshott.
Yesterday evening I went to Esher to fulfil this engagement.
"He had described his household to me before I went there.
He lived with a faithful servant, a countryman of his own, who looked after all his needs.
This fellow could speak English and did his housekeeping for him.
Then there was a wonderful cook, he said, a half-breed whom he had picked up in his travels, who could serve an excellent dinner.
I remember that he remarked what a queer household it was to find in the heart of Surrey, and that I agreed with him, though it has proved a good deal queerer than I thought.
"I drove to the place-about two miles on the south side of Esher.