They reached the hotel, where a room was obtained for Frazer, and David undertook to equip him out of his portmanteau. Brett left the cousins to arrange matters, and hurried to his sitting-room, where a number of telegrams awaited him.
Those from Hume he barely glanced at. David could tell his own story.
There were three from Winter. The first, despatched at 1.10 p.m., read:
“Capella and valet left by club train. Nothing doing Japanese.”
The second was timed 4.30 p.m.:
“Jap, accompanied by tall, fat man, left home 2.45. They separated Piccadilly Circus. Followed Jap—(“Oh, Winter!” groaned Brett)—and saw him enter British Museum. Four o’clock he met fat man again outside Tottenham Court Road Tube Station. They drove west in hansom. Heard address given. Am wiring before going same place.”
This telegram had been handed in at an Oxford Street office.
The third, 7.30., p.m.:
“Nothing important. All quiet. Wiring before your local office closes.”
The facetious Winter had signed these messages “Snow.”