"I should be glad if you could let me have one within half an hour, at any rate." The station-master rose to his feet.
"Quite impossible, sir," he declared a little brusquely.

"Absolutely out of the question!" "May I ask why it is out of the question ?" Mr.Hamilton Fynes inquired.
"In the first place," the station-master answered, "a special train to London would cost you a hundred and eighty pounds, and in the second place, even if you were willing to pay that sum, it would be at least two hours before I could start you off.

We could not possibly disorganize the whole of our fast traffic.

The ordinary mail train leaves here at midnight with sleeping-cars." Mr.Hamilton Fynes held out a letter which he had produced from his breast pocket, and which was, in appearance, very similar to the one which he had presented, a short time ago, to the captain of the Lusitania.
"Perhaps you will kindly read this," he said.

"I am perfectly willing to pay the hundred and eighty pounds." The station-master tore open the envelope and read the few lines contained therein.