The door in the next room opened and shut.  The A.P.M. had returned from lunch . . .

Ten minutes later the door opened again.  I heard Macgillivray’s voice, and it was not pitched in dulcet tones.  He had run up against minor officialdom and was making hay with it.

I was my own master once more, so I forsook the company of the orderly.  I found a most rattled officer trying to save a few rags of his dignity and the formidable figure of Macgillivray instructing him in manners.

‘Glad to see you, Dick,’ he said.  ’This is General Hannay, sir.  It may comfort you to know that your folly may have made just the difference between your country’s victory and defeat.  I shall have a word to say to your superiors.’

It was hardly fair.  I had to put in a word for the old fellow, whose red tabs seemed suddenly to have grown dingy.

’It was my blame wearing this kit.  We’ll call it a misunderstanding and forget it.  But I would suggest that civility is not wasted even on a poor devil of a defaulting private soldier.’

Once in Macgillivray’s car, I poured out my tale.  ’Tell me it’s a nightmare,’ I cried.  ’Tell me that the three men we collected on the Ruff were shot long ago.’

‘Two,’ he replied, ’but one escaped.  Heaven knows how he managed it, but he disappeared clean out of the world.’

‘The plump one who lisped in his speech?’

Macgillivray nodded.

‘Well, we’re in for it this time.  Have you issued instructions?’

’Yes.  With luck we shall have our hands on him within an hour.  We’ve our net round all his haunts.’

‘But two hours’ start!  It’s a big handicap, for you’re dealing with a genius.’

‘Yet I think we can manage it.  Where are you bound for?’

I told him my rooms in Westminster and then to my old flat in Park Lane.  ’The day of disguises is past.  In half an hour I’ll be Richard Hannay.  It’ll be a comfort to get into uniform again.  Then I’ll look up Blenkiron.’

He grinned.  ’I gather you’ve had a riotous time.  We’ve had a good many anxious messages from the north about a certain Mr Brand.  I couldn’t discourage our men, for I fancied it might have spoiled your game.  I heard that last night they had lost touch with you in Bradfield, so I rather expected to see you here today.  Efficient body of men the Scottish police.’

‘Especially when they have various enthusiastic amateur helpers.’

‘So?’ he said.  ’Yes, of course.  They would have.  But I hope presently to congratulate you on the success of your mission.’

‘I’ll bet you a pony you don’t,’ I said.

‘I never bet on a professional subject.  Why this pessimism?’

’Only that I know our gentleman better than you.  I’ve been twice up against him.  He’s the kind of wicked that don’t cease from troubling till they’re stone-dead.  And even then I’d want to see the body cremated and take the ashes into mid-ocean and scatter them.  I’ve got a feeling that he’s the biggest thing you or I will ever tackle.’