“Keep nothing back,” he said under his breath as they followed the girl with sedater pace.  “These women must be frightened into complete obedience.  Did Furneaux get hold of Forbes?”

Theydon nodded.

“That’s right.  Don’t talk.  I can pretty well guess what took place.  But, look here.  Who’s Handyside—­ a mere acquaintance?”

Another nod.

“You just contrived to pick him up, and used him as an excuse for coming to Eastbourne?  I see.  That removes a troublesome pawn off the chessboard.”

“But it doesn’t,” wheezed Theydon.  “He ought to be here.  Can’t make out—­ what has become of him.”

“He will turn up—­ an American, isn’t he?  I thought so.  The indications were slight but certain—­ features, walk, figure.  You can buy clothes, but the genuine citizen of God’s own country is as distinct a type as a Highlander—­ all wool and a yard wide.”

Inside the hotel they came on Evelyn Forbes talking to the manager.  She hailed them at once.

“Mother has gone to Beachy Head,” she cried.  “She and her friends are expected home about six o’clock.  Shall we have some tea?  There is no use in following her.  She will be starting back before we could get there.”

“Mrs. Forbes is quite well, I hope?” put in Winter, casually.

“Yes, sir, in the best of health,” said the manager, indicating, with a flourish of both hands, that nothing else was to be expected as to the condition of any among the numerous patrons of the Royal Devonshire Hotel.

Evelyn asked that tea should be served in her mother’s sitting room.  When they were screened by the closed door Winter examined Theydon’s throat.  Beyond a slight swelling and external soreness, the cricoid cartilage—­ known to the multitude as Adam’s apple—­ was seemingly uninjured, while Theydon himself now made light of the blow, though a certain hoarseness was perceptible in his voice, and he deemed it advisable to speak in a low-pitched tone.

Evelyn Forbes listened with ill-repressed bewilderment while he related the day’s doings.  At first, she hardly grasped the significance of the story, but Winter’s occasional questions and comments, and a parenthetical sentence or two introduced by Theydon for her benefit, quickly revealed the astounding nature of the plot of which her father was the chief object.

At this crisis she displayed a self-control and reticence which were admirable.  She seemed to realize intuitively that any gaps in the recital could be filled in later, whereas it was all-important that the detective should be made acquainted as speedily as possible with the developments brought about by the morning’s fuller disclosures.

As for Winter, he was keenly interested in Furneaux’s behavior at the moment of Forbes’s departure from Innesmore Mansions.  Glancing at his watch, he rose when Theydon’s revelations came to an end.

“I’ll just go and ring up the Yard,” he said.  “There may be news.  When Furneaux starts off in full cry it is a wary fox that escapes him.  I only wish you and I had traveled from Victoria in company, Mr. Theydon; Wong Li Fu would now have been in custody.  However, we’ll get him.  If, as I imagine, he is making for London in that car, there is even a chance of intercepting him in the suburbs.  I’ll see to it.”