’I want you to strain a point, Mr Bellingham, and to do me a service which I assure you you shall never have any cause to regret.  I want you to wire instructions down the line to detain this Arab and his companions and to keep them in custody until the receipt of further instructions.  They are not wanted by the police as yet, but they will be as soon as I am able to give certain information to the authorities at Scotland Yard,—­and wanted very badly.  But, as you will perceive for yourself, until I am able to give that information every moment is important.—­Where’s the Station Superintendent?’

‘He’s gone.  At present I’m in charge.’

’Then will you do this for me?  I repeat that you shall never have any reason to regret it.’

‘I will if you’ll accept all responsibility.’

‘I’ll do that with the greatest pleasure.’

Bellingham looked at his watch.

’It’s about twenty minutes to nine.  The train’s scheduled for Basingstoke at 9.6.  If we wire to Basingstoke at once they ought to be ready for them when they come.’

‘Good!’

The wire was sent.

We were shown into Bellingham’s office to await results Lessingham paced agitatedly to and fro; he seemed to have reached the limits of his self-control, and to be in a condition in which movement of some sort was an absolute necessity.  The mercurial Sydney, on the contrary, leaned back in a chair, his legs stretched out in front of him, his hands thrust deep into his trouser pockets, and stared at Lessingham, as if he found relief to his feelings in watching his companion’s restlessness.  I, for my part, drew up as full a precis of the case as I deemed advisable, and as time permitted, which I despatched by one of the company’s police to Scotland Yard.

Then I turned to my associates.

’Now, gentlemen, it’s past dinner time.  We may have a journey in front of us.  If you take my advice you’ll have something to eat.’

Lessingham shook his head.

‘I want nothing.’

‘Nor I,’ echoed Sydney.

I started up.

’You must pardon my saying nonsense, but surely you of all men, Mr Lessingham, should be aware that you will not improve the situation by rendering yourself incapable of seeing it through.  Come and dine.’

I haled them off with me, willy nilly, to the refreshment room, I dined,—­after a fashion; Mr Lessingham swallowed with difficulty, a plate of soup; Sydney nibbled at a plate of the most unpromising looking ’chicken and ham,’—­he proved, indeed, more intractable than Lessingham, and was not to be persuaded to tackle anything easier of digestion.

I was just about to take cheese after chop when Bellingham came hastening in, in his hand an open telegram.

‘The birds have flown,’ he cried.

‘Flown!—­How?’

In reply he gave me the telegram.  I glanced at it.  It ran: 

’Persons described not in the train.  Guard says they got out at Vauxhall.  Have wired Vauxhall to advise you.’