"If my orders down the line are properly attended to, you should be there by twenty minutes to twelve." Mr.Hamilton Fynes nodded gravely and took his seat in the car.

He had previously walked its entire length and back again.
"The train consists only of this carriage ?" he asked.

"There is no other passenger, for instance, travelling in the guard's brake ?" "Certainly not, sir," the station-master declared.

"Such a thing would be entirely against the regulations.

There are five of you, all told, on board,--driver, stoker, guard, saloon attendant, and yourself." Mr.Hamilton Fynes nodded, and appeared satisfied.
"No more luggage, sir ?" the guard asked.
"I was obliged to leave what I had, excepting this suitcase, upon the steamer," Mr.Hamilton Fynes explained.