He was convinced that the main line of inquiry lay in the direction of Mr.Numagawa Jiro and the curious masquerading of his colossal spouse.
He had vaguely intended to visit the local police.

Now he made up his mind to go to Ipswich and thence to London.

Further delay at Stowmarket was useless.
Before his train quitted the station he made matters right with the stationmaster by explaining to him the identity of the two men who had attracted his attention the previous evening.

Somehow, the barrister imagined that the third visitant of that fateful New Year's Eve two years ago would not trouble the neighbourhood again.

Herein he was mistaken.
At the county town he experienced little difficulty in learning the antecedents of Mrs.Numagawa Jiro.
In the first hotel he entered he found a young lady behind the bar who was not only well acquainted with Mrs.Jiro, but remembered the circumstances of the courtship.
"The fact is," she explained, "there are a lot of silly girls about who think every man with a dark skin is a prince in his own country if only he wears a silk hat and patent leather boots." "Is that all ?" said Brett.
"All what ?" cried the girl.