Write down my message, lest you omit any part of it." Theydon rang off.
"Come!" he said to Bates, who had not retired to his den, but was listening, discreet yet rabbit-eared, to these queer proceedings.
Followed by the man-servant, he darted into the sitting room and did several things at once.
He unlocked a drawer and took from it a considerable sum of money which he kept there for emergency journeys, also pocketing an automatic pistol.

Pouncing on an A B C time table, he looked up the trains for Eastbourne.

A fast train left Victoria at 1:25 p.m.The hour was now 1:05.
Meanwhile he was talking.
"Bates," he said, "I promised Miss Beale, the lady who came here this morning, that my sister, Mrs.Paxton, would visit her this evening, say about six.

Miss Beale is staying at Smith's Hotel, Jermyn Street.

Go to Mrs.Paxton, and see her, waiting at her house if she happens to be out.
Tell everything you know about Mrs.Lester's death, and ask her to take care of Miss Beale this evening.