'Why were they not detained?'

'We had no authority to detain them, nor any reason, until yourmessage was received a few minutes ago we at this station were notaware that inquiries were being made for them.'

'You say he booked to Hull,--does the train run through to Hull?'

'No--it doesn't go to Hull at all. Part of it's the Liverpool andManchester Express, and part of it's for Carlisle. It divides atDerby. The man you're looking for will change either at Sheffieldor at Cudworth Junction and go on to Hull by the first train inthe morning. There's a local service.'

I looked at my watch.

'You say the train left at midnight. It's now nearly five-and-twenty past. Where's it now?'

'Nearing St Albans, it's due there 12.35.'

'Would there be time for a wire to reach St Albans?'

'Hardly,--and anyhow there'll only be enough railway officialsabout the place to receive and despatch the train. They'll befully occupied with their ordinary duties. There won't be time toget the police there.'

'You could wire to St Albans to inquire if they were still in thetrain?'

'That could be done,--certainly. I'll have it done at once if youlike.

'Then where's the next stoppage?'

'Well, they're at Luton at 12.51. But that's another case of StAlbans. You look at there won't be much more than twenty minutes bythe time you have got your wire off, and I don't expect there'll bemany people awake at Luton. At these country places sometimesthere's a policeman hanging about the station to look at the expressgo through, but, on the other hand, very occasionally there isn't, and ifthere isn't, probably at this time of evening it'll take a good bitof time to get the police on the premises. I tell you what Ishould advise.'

'What's that?'

'The train is due at Bedford at 1.29--send your wire there. Thereought to be plenty of people about at Bedford, and anyhow there'llbe time to get the police to the station.'

'Very good. I instructed them to tell you to have a specialready,--have you got one?'