On the morning of the 17th of February, it was a little past midday when Basque, with napkin and feather-duster under his arm, busy in setting his antechamber to rights, heard a light tap at the door.

• 二月十七日，中午稍过，当巴斯克臂下夹着抹布和鸡毛掸，正忙着打扫“他的候客室”时，他听见轻轻的敲门声。