Norgate spent an utterly fruitless morning on the day after his arrival in London.

After a lengthy but entirely unsatisfactory visit to the Foreign Office, he presented himself soon after midday at Scotland Yard.
"I should like," he announced, "to see the Chief Commissioner of the Police." The official to whom he addressed his enquiry eyed him tolerantly.
"Have you, by any chance, an appointment ?" he asked.
"None," Norgate admitted.

"I only arrived from the Continent this morning." The policeman shook his head slowly.
"It is quite impossible, sir," he said, "to see Sir Philip without an appointment.

Your best course would be to write and state your business, and his secretary will then fix a time for you to call." "Very much obliged to you, I'm sure," Norgate replied.

"However, my business is urgent, and if I can't see Sir Philip Morse, I will see some one else in authority." Norgate was regaled with a copy of _The Times_ and a seat in a barely-furnished waiting-room.