Suffice it to say that on reaching his private house Mr.Winslow found that his godson had neither returned nor sent any telegraphic message of any kind.
"Not wishing to needlessly alarm his wife, Mr.Winslow made an attempt at eating his dinner, but directly after that he hurried back to the North-Western Hotel, and asked to see Prince Semionicz.

The Prince was at the theatre with his secretary, and probably would not be home until nearly midnight.
"Mr.Winslow, then, not knowing what to think, nor yet what to fear, and in spite of the horror he felt of giving publicity to his nephew's disappearance, thought it his duty to go round to the police-station and interview the inspector.

It is wonderful how quickly news of that type travels in a large city like Liverpool.

Already the morning papers of the following day were full of the latest sensation: 'Mysterious disappearance of a well-known tradesman.' "Mr.Winslow found a copy of the paper containing the sensational announcement on his breakfast-table.

It lay side by side with a letter addressed to him in his nephew's handwriting, which had been posted in Liverpool.
"Mr.Winslow placed that letter, written to him by his nephew, into the hands of the police.