Wire me there, post-office, if necessary." The station-master (who, as usual, was postmaster too) received this message from my hands, and the remainder of the population--I mean the porter and the constable--who were with him at the time read it over his shoulder.

They all three looked hard at me, and the station-master said "Tenpence!" in a tone which made my blood curdle.

I was doomed to be suspected wherever I went! What did they take me for now?
I decided to take a walk and inspect the country round.

It annoyed me to find that the constable with his carbine thought well to take a walk too, and keep me well in view.
I tried to dodge him, but he was too smart for me; and when finally to avoid him I took shelter in a wayside inn, he seated himself on the bench outside and smoked till I was ready to come out.
I discovered a few more inhabitants, but it added nothing to my comfort.
They, too, stared at me and followed me about, until finally I ran back to the station and cried out in my heart for the four o'clock train.
About five o'clock it strolled up.

I got in anywhere, without even troubling to look for Michael McCrane.