Jacky left me, a few minutes later, to visit the local garage.  Without any clear idea as to what was best to be done, I still felt that I was justified in making a few inquiries as to the cause of Delora’s presence in Newcastle with that particular companion.  I went to the telephone, therefore, and rang up the County Hotel.  I asked to speak to the manager, who came at once to the instrument.

“I understand,” I said, “that the Chinese ambassador has just arrived at your hotel.  Would you be so kind as to ask him whether he would consent to be interviewed as to the reasons of his visit?”

I waited several minutes for a reply.  When it came it was at least emphatic.  The visit of the ambassador, the manager told me, was entirely a private one.  He was simply on a motor tour with a friend, and they had called at Newcastle as it was an interesting city which the ambassador had never seen.  He declined most firmly to have anything to do with any interviewer.

The reply being exactly what I had expected, I was not in the least disappointed.

“Perhaps,” I said to the manager, “you can tell me how long he is staying.”

“I have no idea, sir,” the manager answered.  “They have just ordered a carriage to make a call in the town.”

I thanked him, and left the hotel at once on foot.  When I arrived near the County Hotel a four-wheel cab was drawn up at the entrance.  From a safe distance I stood watching it, and in a few minutes I saw the ambassador and Delora come swiftly out of the hotel and step inside.  I waited till they had driven off, and then crossed the road to where the hall-porter was still standing on the pavement.  I put five shillings into his hand.

“I am a reporter,” I said.  “Can you tell me where the ambassador has gone to?”

He smiled, and touched his hat.

“They are going to the offices of Messrs. Halliday & Co., the great shipbuilders, in Corporation Street,” he answered.

I thanked him, and walked slowly away.  I found plenty of material for thought, but it seemed to me that there was nothing more which I could do.  Nevertheless, I walked along towards the address which the porter had given me, and found, as I had expected, that the cab was standing empty outside.  Opposite was a small public-house.  I went in, ordered a whiskey and soda, and lit a cigarette.  Then I sat down facing the window.  Half an hour passed, and then an hour.  It was one o’clock before the two men reappeared.  They were accompanied by a third person, whom I judged to be a member of the firm, and who entered the cab with them.  On the pavement they were accosted by a young man in spectacles, who look off his hat and said a few words to the ambassador.  The latter, however, shaking his head, stepped into the cab.  The young man pushed forward once more, but the cab drove off.  As soon as it had turned the corner I hurried out and addressed him.