Packing myself and my belongings into a solitary growler which was standing in the gutter, I instructed the man to take me as far as the Gunner's Arms. We plodded off, and, after half an hour's drive between dripping hedgerows, came out at last over the brow of the long slope that overlooks the estuary. I lowered the sash, and, putting my head out of the window, inspected the prospect. Down below, the roof of the inn was just visible, but the harbour itself and everything beyond was hidden under a pall of fog, which stretched like a grey shroud over the whole length of the estuary. There was something singularly sinister and desolate about the whole scene, and for a moment I felt a pang of regret for the comfortable billiard-room which I had so recently quitted. We came to a halt on the quay in front of the inn, deserted for once by its usual sprinkling of boatmen and barge hands. Our arrival had been observed, however, for scarcely had we pulled up when I saw the small figure of Jimmy emerge from the stable door and come hurrying down the yard towards us. He touched his damp curls with a cheerful grin of welcome. "I reckoned it was you, guv'nor," he remarked "You ain't bin away long, an' that's a fact." "Quite long enough, Jimmy," I returned. "At all events, you've had time to mess up the weather." He took the bag which I handed out, and at the same time cast a rather disgusted glance into the surrounding gloom. "It's a treat, ain't it!" he observed. "Come on like this yes'day afternoon." Then, drawing a little nearer, he added in a lowered voice: "There's a letter for you at the 'ouse, guv'nor. The young laidy give it me laite las' night, an' I took it across at once--saime as you told me." I tried to cover my unseemly elation by lighting a cigarette. "Where did you meet her?" I enquired. "She come down to the quay. I see 'er standin' there in the dark, an' I says to me self, As like as not she's wantin' me. So I just slips over alongside of 'er, an' without sayin' nothin' she shoves the letter in my 'and and orf she goes." I looked at him gratefully. "You're a stout fellow, James," I said "I knew I could depend on you directly I saw you." He waited until I had paid the cabman, and then, shouldering my bag, accompanied me to the boat. "I seen 'er again since then," he continued confidentially. "I was comin' along Duke's Laine about 'alf an hour ago, an' she was waitin' to go aboard the doctor's barge." I stopped short with a very distinct shock. "Are you sure about that?" I demanded He nodded a little scornfully. "Dead certain, guv'nor. There ain't no one else you'd mistake for 'er--not round these parts." "But how do you know she was waiting to go on the barge?" I persisted. "Why, I 'eard 'er call out, and I seed the doctor comin' orf to fetch 'er. I reckon she's there now--that's to say, if 'e ain't put 'er ashore again."