So after all I had overslept—it behoved me to be careful. The policemen ambled idiotically up and down without dreaming of departure. At last fortune favoured me. An enchanting little lady’s maid opened the door, and hey presto! the policeman was at her side, playfully conversing with the pretty dear.
Without being seen by either, with a quick motion I vaulted over the fence into the street. It was already six o’clock, and Hyde Park was just being opened. As the Underground was not yet running, I went into the Park and dropped full length on a bench, near to other vagabonds who had made themselves comfortable there. I then pulled my hat over my face and slept profoundly until nine o’clock.
With fresh strength and courage I entered the Underground, and was carried to the harbour area. In the Strand huge, yellow posters attracted my attention, and who can describe my astonishment when I read on them, printed in big, fat letters, that:
(1) Mr. Trefftz had been recaptured the evening before; (2) Mr. Plüschow was still at large; but that (3) the police were already on his track.
The first and the third items were news; but I knew all about the second. I promptly bought a newspaper, went into a tea-shop, where I read with great interest the following notice:
“Extra Late War Edition “HUNT FOR ESCAPED GERMAN “High-pitched Voice as a Clue
“Scotland Yard last night issued the following amended description of Gunther Plüschow, one of the German prisoners who escaped from Donington Hall, Leicestershire, on Monday:
Height, 5 feet 5½ inches; weight, 135 lb.; complexion, fair; hair, blond; eyes, blue; and tattoo marks: Chinese dragon on left arm.
As already stated in the Daily Chronicle, Plüschow’s companion, Trefftz, was recaptured on Monday evening at Millwall Docks. Both men are naval officers. An earlier description stated that Plüschow is twenty-nine years old. His voice is high-pitched.
“He is particularly smart and dapper in appearance, has very good teeth, which he shows somewhat prominently when talking or smiling, is ‘very English in manner,’ and knows this country well. He also knows Japan well. He is quick and alert, both mentally and physically, and speaks French and English fluently and accurately. He was dressed in a grey lounge suit or grey-and-yellow mixture suit.”