‘Lisbon is the first call?’ asked the Inspector.
‘Yes. She’s due there about six on Thursday morning.’
‘And this is Tuesday. That’s about a fifty hour run?’
‘About that.’
‘I must get there before her. How am I to do it?’
The clerk stared.
‘I’m afraid you can’t,’ he answered slowly. ‘She’s not a specially fast boat, but there’s no other leaving soon enough to pass her.’
‘Overland?’
‘No. There’s not time. If you had caught the Havre boat last night you could have done it. You can’t now.’
‘Let me see the time table.’