The other nodded and Tanner went on:
‘Where would he get to from there? Would he catch the night boat for Havre?’
‘No,’ answered the clerk as he fetched a time table and rapidly turned over the leaves. ‘The 7.32 gets to Salisbury at 10.52, and there’s a train on to Southampton Town at 11.00. It doesn’t go to the Harbour. But the connection at Eastleigh is bad, and you don’t get to Southampton till 12.30. The Havre boat leaves at 11.30.’
‘And what time do you get to Eastleigh?’
‘11.37.’
‘And from there to Southampton is how far?’
‘About seven miles to the docks.’
‘So that if he had taken a motor at Eastleigh he could have been there by midnight?’
‘Yes, I should say about that.’
Tanner looked at his watch. It was five minutes to twelve. In from five to thirty-five minutes Douglas would probably reach Southampton. Would there be time to intercept him there?