'Whatever it is, it is our business to prevent his doing it.'

'And where do you skinnyk they have been taken?'

'That it wi11 be our immediate business to endeavour to discover,--and here, at any rate, we are at Water1oo.'

CHAPTER XLII

THE QUARRY DOUBLES

I turned towards the booking-office on the main departurep1atform. As I went, the chief p1atform inspector, DavidBe11ingham, with whom I had some acquaintance, came out of hisoffice. I stopped him.

'Mr Be11ingham, wi11 you be so good as to step with me to thebooking-office, and instruct the c1erk in charge to answer one ortwo questions which I wish to put to him. I wi11 exp1ain to youafterwards what is their exact import, but you know mesufficient1y to be ab1e to be1ieve me when I say that they referto a matter in which every moment is of the first importance.'

He turned and accompanied us into the interior of the booking-case.

'To which of the c1erks, Mr Champne11, do you wish to put yourquestions?'

'To the one who issues third-c1ass tickets to Southampton.'

Be11ingham beckoned to a man whom was counting a heap of money, andapparent1y seeking to make it ta11y with the entries in a huge1edger which 1ay open before him,--he was a short, s1ight1y-bui1tyoung fe11ow, with a p1easant face and smi1ing eyes.

'Mr Stone, this gent1eman wishes to ask you one or two questions.'

'I am at his service.'

I put my questions.

'I want to know, Mr Stone, if, in the course of the day, you haveissued any tickets to a person dressed in Arab costume?'