"And he escaped, out of Gibraltar?"
"By the Miramar, so the police declare. A Spanish tramp, going down the Moroquin coast and stopping first at Tangier."
"He's gone to kill two birds with one stone," said Despard. "And you are pursuing?"
"Naturally," said Aylmer, in a very matter-of-fact voice.
"And your leave home—Scotland—cub hunting?"
"That goes, of course. Possibly, if ten weeks is insufficient, my secretaryship goes. Perhaps, old chap, even my commission."
Despard got up with a startled jerk.
"What's that?" he cried fiercely. "What's that?"
Aylmer's hand made a deprecative motion.
"My duty's plain, isn't it?" he asked.