Edward Phillips Oppenheim

The Double Life Of Mr. Alfred Burton Edward Phillips Oppenheim

Mr. Alfred Burton, although he was blissfully and completely ignorant of the fact, stood atthe door of Fate. He was a little out of breath and his silk hat was reclining at the back of hishead. In his mouth was a large cigar which he felt certain was going to disagree with him, but he smoked it because it had been presented to him a few minutes ago by the clientupon whom he was in attendance. He had rather deep-set blue eyes, which might havebeen attractive but for a certain keenness in their outlook, which was in a sense indicativeof the methods and character of the young man himself; a pale, characterless face, astraggling, sandy moustache, and an earnest, not to say convincing, manner. He wasdressed in such garments as the head-clerk of Messrs. Waddington & Forbes, third-rateauctioneers and house agents, might have been expected to select. He dangled a bunch ofkeys in his hand.