“There can be no error, sir,” put in the stationmaster. “Mr. Capella’s valet came by the train, and assured me that he left London with his master. Besides, the carriage is here from the Hall. It was ordered by telegraph. There is the valet himself. He imagines that Mr. Capella quitted the train on the way, and will arrive by this one. But there is no sign of him.”
The mention of the carriage brought a look of decision into the barrister’s face.
“One more question,” he said to the official. “Did you see the person described as the Japanese?”
“Yes, sir, I did. As a matter of fact, I thought it was somebody else. It was not until the stranger who arrived by the train used that name to distinguish him that I understood I was mistaken.”
The stationmaster looked into Brett’s eyes that which he did not like to say in the presence of the Frazers. Of course, he had fallen into the same error as most people who only obtained a casual glimpse of Ooma.
Brett hurried his companions outside the station. There they found the Beechcroft carriage, and a puzzled valet holding parley with the coachman and footman. David Hume’s authority was sufficient to secure the use of the vehicle, and Brett made the position easier for the men by saying that, in all probability, they would find fresh instructions awaiting them at the Hall.
Before the party drove off Winter noticed a local sergeant of police standing near.
“Shall I ask him to come with us, sir?” he said to Brett.
The barrister considered the point for an instant before replying:
“Perhaps it would be better, as we have not got a warrant.”