We were driven there. I made my way to the usual inspector behind the usual pigeon-hole.
‘My name is Champnell. Have you received any communication from Scotland Yard to-night having reference to a matter in which I am interested?’
‘Do you mean about the Arab? We received a telephonic message about half an hour ago.’
‘Since communicating with Scotland Yard this has come to hand from the authorities at Vauxhall Station. Can you tell me if anything has been seen of the person in question by the men of your division?’
I handed the Inspector the ‘report.’ His reply was laconic.
‘I will inquire.’
He passed through a door into an inner room and the ‘report’ went with him.
‘Beg pardon, sir, but was that a Harab you was a-talking about to the Hinspector?’
The speaker was a gentleman unmistakably of the guttersnipe class. He was seated on a form. Close at hand hovered a policeman whose special duty it seemed to be to keep an eye upon his movements.
‘Why do you ask?’