"You wanted to go to town by the 10.27 train, and I took forcible measures to prevent you.
It may therefore interest you to know what became of that train, and what you have escaped.

There's been a frightful collision.

The down express ran into it at the curve just beyond the signal station at Colebridge Junction, owing to some mistake of the signalman, I believe.

Anyhow, in the train you wanted to go by there were five people killed outright, and fourteen others crunched up and mangled in a most inartistic style.

And if I hadn't locked you up as I did you'd probably be in the County Hospital at this moment in an exceedingly unpleasant predicament." Dead silence.