There could be no doubt that the Bellizona-Locarno Lake line was the preferable one, and I finally decided in favour of it.  I closed my Bradshaw with a bang, replaced it in my bag, drank up my coffee, and started for the telegraph office.  I meant to advise Tiler of my plans, and at the same time arrange with him to look out for me just outside the terminus station at Domo Dossola, or to communicate with me there at the Hotel de la Poste.

On coming out I ran up against the last person I wished to see.  It was the Colonel, who greeted me with a loud laugh, and gave me a slap on the back.

“Halloa, my wily detective,” he said mockingly; “settled it all quite to your satisfaction?  Done with Bradshaw—­sent off your wires?  Well, what’s the next move?”

“I decline to hold any conversation with you,” I began severely.  “I beg you will not intrude upon my privacy.  I do not desire your acquaintance.”

“Hoity toity!” he cried.  “On your high horse, eh?  Aren’t you afraid you may fall off or get knocked off?” and he raised his hand with an ugly gesture.

“We are not alone now in a railway carriage.  There are police about, and the Swiss police do not approve of brawling,” I replied, with all the dignity I could assume.

“Come, Falfani, tell me what you mean to do now,” he went on in the same tone.

“Your questions are an impertinence.  I do not know you.  I do not choose to know you, and I beg you will leave me alone.”

“Don’t think of it, my fine fellow.  I’m not going to leave you alone.  You may make up your mind to that.  Where you go, I go; what you do, I shall do.  We are inseparables, you and I, as much united as the Siamese twins.  So I tell you.”

“But it’s monstrous, it’s not to be tolerated.  I shall appeal for protection to the authorities.”

“Do so, my friend, do so.  See which will get the best of that.  I don’t want to swagger, but at any rate all the world knows pretty well who I am; but what shall you call yourself, Mr. Falfani?”

“I have my credentials from my employers; I have letters, testimonials, recommendations from the best people.”

“Including the Earl of Blackadder, I presume?  I admit your great advantages.  Well, try it.  You may get the best of it in the long run, but you’ll lose a good deal of time.  I’m not in a hurry,” he said with emphasis, and promptly recalled me to my senses, for I realized that I could not fight him that way.  It must be by stratagem or evasion.  I must throw dust in his eyes, put him off the scent, mislead, befool, elude him somehow.

How was I to shake him off now I saw that he was determined to stick to me?  He had said it in so many words.  He would not let me out of his sight; wherever I went he was coming too.

The time was drawing on for the departure of the St. Gothard express at 9.8 A.M., and as yet I had no ticket.  I had booked at Amiens as far as Lucerne only, leaving further plans as events might fall out.  Now I desired to go on, but did not see how I was to take a fresh ticket without his learning my destination.  He would be certain to be within earshot when I went up to the window.