Page:Buchan - The Thirty-Nine Steps (Grosset Dunlap, 1915).djvu/205

 "That's not it," I said.

"Then there are plenty of Marine Parades, if that's what you mean. Every seaside resort has them."

I shook my head.

"It's got to be more retired than that," I said.

"Well, gentlemen, I can't think of anywhere else. Of course, there's the Ruff——" "What's that?" I asked.

"The big chalk headland in Kent, close to Bradgate. It's got a lot of villas on the top,and some of the houses have staircases down to a private beach. It's a very high-toned sort of place, and the residents there like to keep by themselves."

I tore open the "Tide Tables" and found Bradgate. High tide there was at 10.27 on the 15th of June.

"We're on the scent at last!" I cried excitedly. "How can I find out what is the tide at the Ruff?"

"I can tell you that, sir," said the coastguard man. "I once was lent a house there