He is being well cared for, and will, I trust, be all right in a day or two." Dr Brandram's reply to this transparent communication was to order his dogcart and take the first train to London.

Before starting, he had time to send a telegram to Armstrong to meet him at the hotel the same evening.
Little dreaming of the effect of his message, Captain Oliphant was spending a resigned afternoon in the sick-room.

Fate was working on his side once more.

Mr Ratman had apparently vanished into space.

Mr Armstrong was out of the way.