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250 BLACK SHEEP."to the general sentiment. An ill-looking, downlookingdogIcall him," Jim had said to himselfmore than once; " more like the Pirate ofthe Persian Gulf, or the Bandit of Bokarer,Ithink, than anybody asIknoyvs out of thepictures."More ill-looking, more down-lookingthan everJim Swain thought Stewart Routh when he spoketo him that morning. His face was colourless,hiseyes bloodshot,the glance troubled and wandering,his voice harsh and uneven. He gave Jim a brieforder to meethim at the London-bridge railwaystationthe same evening, at a quarter to six. I""shall have a message for you," said Routh. Bepunctual, remember." And then he turned ayvayabruptlyand wentinto his room, shutting the doorroughly." He ain't in the best of humours,even of hisown,and they'renoneon 'em good," thought Jim,as he turned out of Tokenhouse-yard and took hisyvay westwardagain,keeping his handpermanentlyin his pocket this time.awaited him at Routh's house.A fresh disappointmentMrs. Routh hadgone out immediately after she had breakfasted.