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 they went off. And of course we followed—to Waterloo!"

"Not to Liverpool Street and mother!" observed Wedgwood sarcastically. "Well—you'd be beginning to feel the pleasures of the chase by that time, my lad, what?"

"I was beginning to feel that I'd got my work set!" replied Stainsby. "I was afraid she'd see me at Waterloo, crowded though it always is. Then again, I'd not much money on me, only about ten shillings. But I got over that—I borrowed a couple of pounds from the taxi-chap. And I continued to dodge her splendidly in the station until at last, when she left her trunks with a porter while she went into the waiting-room, I managed to slip past them and get a glance at the labels. They were steamer labels—for the Mauretania. So I knew I was safe then, and I didn't bother to keep an eye on her any longer. I went straight off and got a ticket for Southampton and went to the train and got into a far side corner of a smoking-carriage. And at last I saw her pass, with her trunks, and get in further up."

"That was the five-thirty, I suppose?" said Wedgwood.

"It was—and it got here to this station at seven-sixteen," agreed the apprentice. "And just as I expected there was Thomas Wray-