"The night the Zeppelins were over?"
"Yes; he left the next afternoon," said Spatts.
Valentine Braund also discovered that Meason's car had not taken the York road but had traveled London way. He followed quickly and arrived in town not long after Meason. It was Braund who set the police on his track. He was with them when he found they had allowed him to leave the Fairfax Hotel. The Inspector told him they had not sufficient evidence to go upon and were not justified in arresting him.
"You might have stretched a point," grumbled Braund.
"That's all very well. I don't say you're not right, but we have to be very careful in such cases," said the Inspector.
"You are so careful that you allow fellows in motor cars to scour the country and pilot these raiders," snapped Braund.
Carl Meason was alarmed. The police had been informed as to his movements; he had very little doubt about that. He told Jane he must leave London at once, it was very important; he was going to Margate, but she must not tell anybody.
She was disappointed. He had promised to take her about London; she had seen nothing of it.
He answered her sharply. His business was more important than tramping about London.
What was his business, she asked again, and her constant repetition irritated him. He gave no satisfactory replies and she resented this. Jane was sharp, her faculties developed. She was not so simple as he imagined. He was surprised at her persistence. Was she beginning to suspect him? If so what did she think?