“Well I _can’t_ tell you my purpose in this business just now, except to say that if you knew it you’d be with me heart and soul, and that if my surmise is right the person we have just seen dressed like a woman isn’t a woman at all but a man. He isn’t going to Hole Haven, for he’s just turned down the path that leads to the ferry at Benfleet. It looks as if he meant catching the nine o’clock train for London from Southend. He must be followed, but not by me, and for two reasons: the first is that while he’s away I must get by hook or by crook upon the ‘Cuban Queen;’ the second is that I don’t want him to see me, as in that case he’d know me again. Will you trust me that all’s square until I can tell you the whole story, and in the meantime will you let Quickly follow that man and try to find out for me where he goes? It is most important that I should know.” “All serene, my boy,” said Muir, slapping his great hand into mine too vigorously to be altogether pleasant, and too loudly to be discreet under the circumstances. “All serene; I’ll trust you up to the hilt; and I’m sorry I spoke. Do what you like about the skipper, and I’ll never ask a question.” I turned to Quickly: “Can you get round to the station without being seen, before that person gets there, so that he shan’t suppose he’s followed?” “Ees zur,” said Quickly, “if I go through the churchyard and cross yon field.” “Off you go, then,” I said. “Here are three pounds for expenses. Get to the station before he does and keep an eye for him from the window of the men’s waiting-room, where he can’t see you. If he goes into any waiting-room it will have to be into the ladies’, while he has that dress on. So you go into the general room. But take tickets before he gets there, one to Shoeburyness, which is as far as the line goes one way, and the other to London, which is as far as it goes in the opposite direction. If he waits for the next down train, you wait too, and go where he goes, but if he takes the up train to London, slip out and into the same train when his back is turned. Wherever he goes, up or down, you’re to go too, and when he gets out, shadow him, without being seen yourself, and make a note of any place he calls at. Then when you’ve run him to earth, telegraph to Mr. Muir at the inn here--not to me--saying where you are, and I’ll join you next train. But keep your eyes open at all the stations the train stops at to see he doesn’t get out and give you the slip. Do this job well and carry it through and there’ll be a couple of ten-pound notes for you when you get back. And now be off.” CHAPTER X I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” The opportunity to pay a surprise visit to the “Cuban Queen” in the absence of “Mrs. Hughes” had come at last, and as I had already hit upon a plan by which I might carry out my purpose, without giving Hughes cause to suspect that my happening upon him was other than accidental, I proceeded at once to put it into effect.