“But do you know how far it is?  It’s thirteen thousand miles or more.”

“I know.  I’m going to have a try.  I’ve got seven days to get there and back; then my leave’s up.  I can do it if the engine holds out, and if you’ll help.”

“My dear chap, you know I’ll do anything I can, but—­well, upon my soul, you take my breath away.  I’m not often surprised, but—­what are you grinning at?”

“At having knocked the wind out of your sails for once, old man.  Seriously, we’ve thought it out, Roddy and I. We’ve more than once done a speed of a hundred and ninety.  Of course it’s a different matter to keep it up for days on end, but how long have you had your motor-car?”

“Three months.  Why?”

“And how often has it broken down?”

“Not at all; but I haven’t done thirteen thousand miles at a go.”

“You’ve done more, with stoppages.  Well, I shall have stoppages—­just long enough to clean and take in petrol and oil, and that’s where I want your help.  I want you to arrange for eighty gallons of petrol and sixteen of oil, to be ready for me at three places besides Constantinople.  Here’s the list; Karachi, Penang, and Port Darwin.  Could you cable me to the address in Constantinople the names of firms at those places?”

“Of course.  I’ll look ’em up the first thing in the morning.”

“Too late.  It must be done to-night.  If all goes well I shall be in Constantinople soon after eight to-morrow—­our time; and I must leave there in a couple of hours if I’m to stick to my programme.”

“Very well.  I’ll look out some names as soon as I get back to town.  You mean to keep me up all night.  There you are, man; it’s absurd; you can’t drive night and day for seven days without sleep.”

“Roddy and I shall have to take watch and watch.”

“But suppose you’re caught in a storm; suppose the engine breaks down when you’re over the sea—­”

“My dear chap, if we fall into the sea we shan’t hurt ourselves so much as if it were land.  I’ve got a couple of lifebuoys.  If a storm comes on, too bad to sail through, we must come down and wait till it’s over.  Of course any accident may stop us, even a speck of grit in the engine; but you’re the last man in the world to be put off a thing by any bogey of what-might-be, and I’m going to look at the bright side.  It’s time I was off, so I’ll take the things you’ve brought—­oh, I see Roddy has already shipped them, so I’ll get aboard.”

“Well, I wish you all the luck in the world.  Send me a wire when you land, will you, so that I may know how you are getting on.”

“If I have time.  Good-bye, old man; many thanks.”

They shook hands, and Smith was just about to jump into his seat when there came the sound of galloping horses, and the incessant clanging of a bell.  Smith laughed.

“Your blaze has roused the Epsom Fire Brigade,” he said with a chuckle.