‘Damnation!’ cried Tanner angrily. ‘What were you thinking about, sergeant? How in hell did you let him slip through your fingers?’
‘The man I sent down, sir, missed him. I can’t imagine how he did it, but you’ll hear what he has to say yourself. After I had all—’
‘I’ll see him,’ said Tanner grimly. ‘How did you find it out?’
‘I posted the men, sir, first, then I went round them myself. I got to the Vaal River’s berth as she was sheering out. I made inquiries at the office. There is no doubt the man booked.’
‘Where to?’
‘Tangier, sir.’
‘H’m—Morocco, and there’s no extradition from there. Where else does the boat call?’
‘Lisbon, Marseilles, Naples, Suez, Delagoa Bay and Durban.’
‘I’ll get him at Lisbon. Show me the office.’
They hurried down to the East Africa Line Quay office. There Tanner interviewed the booking clerk and satisfied himself that Douglas really had sailed. He had booked under the name of Walter Donnell.