Then simultaneously two things happened.  I heard the yells of my pursuers a dozen yards off, and the train jolted into motion.  I jumped on the footboard, and looked into an open window.  The compartment was packed with troops, six a side and two men sitting on the floor, and the door was locked.  I dived headforemost through the window and landed on the neck of a weary warrior who had just dropped off to sleep.

While I was falling I made up my mind on my conduct.  I must be intoxicated, for I knew the infinite sympathy of the British soldier towards those thus overtaken.  They pulled me to my feet, and the man I had descended on rubbed his skull and blasphemously demanded explanations.

‘Gen’lmen,’ I hiccoughed, ’I ’pologize.  I was late for this bl-blighted train and I mus’ be in E’inburgh ’morrow or I’ll get the sack.  I ’pologize.  If I’ve hurt my friend’s head, I’ll kiss it and make it well.’

At this there was a great laugh.  ‘Ye’d better accept, Pete,’ said one.  ‘It’s the first time anybody ever offered to kiss your ugly heid.’

A man asked me who I was, and I appeared to be searching for a card-case.

‘Losht,’ I groaned.  ‘Losht, and so’s my wee bag and I’ve bashed my po’ hat.  I’m an awful sight, gen’lmen—­an awful warning to be in time for trains.  I’m John Johnstone, managing clerk to Messrs Watters, Brown & Elph’stone, 923 Charl’tte Street, E’inburgh.  I’ve been up north seein’ my mamma.’

‘Ye should be in France,’ said one man.

’Wish’t I was, but they wouldn’t let me.  “Mr Johnstone,” they said, “ye’re no dam good.  Ye’ve varicose veins and a bad heart,” they said.  So I says, “Good mornin’, gen’lmen.  Don’t blame me if the country’s ru’ned”.  That’s what I said.’

I had by this time occupied the only remaining space left on the floor.  With the philosophy of their race the men had accepted my presence, and were turning again to their own talk.  The train had got up speed, and as I judged it to be a special of some kind I looked for few stoppings.  Moreover it was not a corridor carriage, but one of the old-fashioned kind, so I was safe for a time from the unwelcome attention of conductors.  I stretched my legs below the seat, rested my head against the knees of a brawny gunner, and settled down to make the best of it.

My reflections were not pleasant.  I had got down too far below the surface, and had the naked feeling you get in a dream when you think you have gone to the theatre in your nightgown.  I had had three names in two days, and as many characters.  I felt as if I had no home or position anywhere, and was only a stray dog with everybody’s hand and foot against me.  It was an ugly sensation, and it was not redeemed by any acute fear or any knowledge of being mixed up in some desperate drama.  I knew I could easily go on to Edinburgh, and when the police made trouble, as they would, a wire to Scotland Yard would settle matters in a couple of hours.  There wasn’t a suspicion of bodily danger to restore my dignity.  The worst that could happen would be that Ivery would hear of my being befriended by the authorities, and the part I had settled to play would be impossible.  He would certainly hear.  I had the greatest respect for his intelligence service.