But just then the clicking of the telegraph-wire in the adjoining office was heard, and the chief raised his hands, saying:
“Be kind enough to stop. That may be the answer we expect now.”
The General and Dick sat down and waited. A few minutes passed, and then a man entered from the telegraph office, and handed the chief a folded paper.
“Yes; here it is!” said Mr. Harding, opening and reading:
“The parties reached here at ten o’clock and took the steamer for Guernsey at a quarter after. We wait orders.”
“There you see, sir, it is as I feared! They got off before my telegram could have reached Southampton—before, in point of fact, it had been dispatched from London. And it is as I suspected—they are going to one of the Channel Islands to kill each other at their leisure,” said the chief.
“And now what the deuce is to be done? Can’t they still be followed and stopped?”
“I fear not until they have accomplished their purpose. There is no other boat leaves for Guernsey until to-morrow.”
“No other packet? But, good Heavens, can we not hire a yacht and go in pursuit of them? We can run down to Southampton by the next train, and, in so large a port as that, we could be sure of being able to charter a vessel for the trip.”
“I fear, sir, I should not be justified in taking the responsibility of incurring so great an expense,” said the chief, slowly.