London, leaving the car in a garage at St. Albans.  That is a bald but accurate summary of the facts.  I dropped Mr. Furneaux and his prisoner at Bow Street and was on the way to my city office, when I suddenly felt faint for want of food, as I ate hardly any breakfast this morning, and only drank a cup of coffee in Mr. Theydon’s place.  So I returned to the Carlton, where I met a friend, a business associate, who remained for a chat while I had a meal.  This trivial accident prevented me from telephoning to my house, though, naturally, I had no misgivings as to my daughter’s well-being.  Even then I was detained unduly, because my friend and I went to another office in the city, and two more hours elapsed before I reached my own place.  Then, and not until then, did I hear of Evelyn’s journey and its cause.”

“Thank you, Mr. Forbes,” said Winter quietly.  “We seem to have made a forward move today.  Before calling Miss Evelyn to the phone I want to tell you that in disobeying your orders to remain at home she did my department a good turn.  Wong Li Fu and I were brought face to face.  He is not a myth.”

“My word might be regarded as sufficient proof of that fact.”

“Certainly, Mr. Forbes, if given earlier,” was the inevitable retort.  “But here is your daughter.  She can plead her cause far better than I.”

Evelyn took the woman’s way.  To defend she attacked.

“Dad, dear,” she complained, “why didn’t you give me your confidence?  If I had had the least notion of the dreadful things that were going on I should certainly have telephoned to Eastbourne before starting.  But don’t you see the diabolical cleverness of the scheme?  The telegram arrived just in time to allow me to catch the 1:25 p. m. train, and rendering it idle to think of making a trunk call if I would obey an urgent message from my mother.  Then again, when I reached Eastbourne, why should I suspect a foreign-looking gentleman who said Dr. Sinnett had sent his car to take me to the hotel?  There isn’t a Dr. Sinnett in Eastbourne at this date, but how was I to know that?  Of course, both you and I have suffered a good deal, each in a different way, but all is well that ends well, and I shall have such a lot to tell you when we meet tonight....  What time?  I don’t know yet.  I’ll wire or phone when mother returns and we settle about the train.  Goodby, darling!  See you don’t go anywhere alone until I come back.”

For some reason Winter’s manner was not so placid as usual.  He looked so obviously perplexed and troubled that Theydon, searching for a cause, suddenly remembered that the chief inspector was a great smoker.

“Won’t you have a cigar?” he said; “that is, unless Miss Forbes has any objection?”

“Me!” cried the girl.  “I don’t object in the least.”

But the Royal Devonshire Hotel’s best Havana did not wholly banish the frown from Winter’s forehead.  More than once he glanced at his watch and consulted a time table.  At last he voiced one of his anxieties.