And another preoccupation was weighing on Tommy’s mind.

“Do you know how long we’ve been here?” he asked one morning as they sat facing each other at breakfast.  “A week!  We’re no nearer to finding Tuppence, and next Sunday is the 29th!”

“Shucks!” said Julius thoughtfully.  “I’d almost forgotten about the 29th.  I’ve been thinking of nothing but Tuppence.”

“So have I. At least, I hadn’t forgotten about the 29th, but it didn’t seem to matter a damn in comparison to finding Tuppence.  But to-day’s the 23rd, and time’s getting short.  If we’re ever going to get hold of her at all, we must do it before the 29th—­her life won’t be worth an hour’s purchase afterwards.  The hostage game will be played out by then.  I’m beginning to feel that we’ve made a big mistake in the way we’ve set about this.  We’ve wasted time and we’re no forrader.”

“I’m with you there.  We’ve been a couple of mutts, who’ve bitten off a bigger bit than they can chew.  I’m going to quit fooling right away!”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll tell you.  I’m going to do what we ought to have done a week ago.  I’m going right back to London to put the case in the hands of your British police.  We fancied ourselves as sleuths.  Sleuths!  It was a piece of damn-fool foolishness!  I’m through!  I’ve had enough of it.  Scotland Yard for me!”

“You’re right,” said Tommy slowly.  “I wish to God we’d gone there right away.”

“Better late than never.  We’ve been like a couple of babes playing ‘Here we go round the Mulberry Bush.’  Now I’m going right along to Scotland Yard to ask them to take me by the hand and show me the way I should go.  I guess the professional always scores over the amateur in the end.  Are you coming along with me?”

Tommy shook his head.

“What’s the good?  One of us is enough.  I might as well stay here and nose round a bit longer.  Something might turn up.  One never knows.”

“Sure thing.  Well, so long.  I’ll be back in a couple of shakes with a few inspectors along.  I shall tell them to pick out their brightest and best.”

But the course of events was not to follow the plan Julius had laid down.  Later in the day Tommy received a wire: 

“Join me Manchester Midland Hotel.  Important news—­Julius.”

At 7:30 that night Tommy alighted from a slow cross-country train.  Julius was on the platform.

“Thought you’d come by this train if you weren’t out when my wire arrived.”

Tommy grasped him by the arm.

“What is it?  Is Tuppence found?”

Julius shook his head.

“No.  But I found this waiting in London.  Just arrived.”

He handed the telegraph form to the other.  Tommy’s eyes opened as he read: 

“Jane Finn found.  Come Manchester Midland Hotel immediately—­Peel Edgerton.”