Dingledale Junction proved to be rather a busy place.  There were two platforms in the station, and a refreshment room.  I found also that Mr. Smith was actually represented there, in the shape of a small boy, a dozen novels, and a few newspapers.  This, however, did not augur so well for my inquiries.  The officials here would not be so likely to notice any particular passenger.  Still there was something in my favour.  Kaffar would in any circumstances attract attention in a country place.  His appearance was so remarkable, that any countryman would stop for a second look at him.

After a great many inquiries, I found that Kaffar, or a man strongly resembling him, had been there on the night in question, and had taken a ticket for Leeds.  He had no luggage, and what made the porter in attendance remember him so vividly was the fact of his being angry when asked if he had any luggage to be labelled.

So far, then, my inquiries were successful; so far I might congratulate myself on making forward steps.  And yet I was scarcely satisfied.  It seemed too plain.  Would Kaffar have allowed himself to be followed in such a way?  I was not sure.  On the one hand, he was very cunning, and, on the other, he knew but little of the means of detecting people in England.

I took the next train for Leeds, and there my success ended.  I could find traces of him nowhere.  This was scarcely to be wondered at.  Leeds is a great commercial centre, where men of every nationality meet, and of course Kaffar would be allowed to pass unnoticed.  Then I began to think what the Egyptian would be likely to do, and after weighing the whole matter in my mind I came to this conclusion:  either he was in London with Voltaire, or he had gone back to Egypt.  The first was not likely.  If Kaffar were seen in London, Voltaire’s plans would be upset, and I did not think my enemy would allow that.  Of course he might have means of keeping him there in strict secrecy, or he might have a score of disguises to keep him from detection.  Still I thought the balance would be heaviest on the side of his returning to Egypt.  I naturally thought he would return to his native land, because I had heard him say he talked none of the European languages besides English and a smattering of Turkish.

My next step, therefore, was to return to London, and then go to Dover, Calais, Newhaven, and Dieppe, to try to see whether Kaffar could be traced.  At the same time, I determined to have a watch set upon Voltaire, and his every step dogged, so that, if he held any communication with Kaffar, necessary steps might be taken to prove to Miss Forrest my innocence, and thus she might at once be freed from the designs of the man she hated.