Greensea Island: A Mystery of the Essex CoastBridges, Victor
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Greensea Island: A Mystery of the Essex Coast
Bridges, Victor
Adventure stories; Detective and mystery stories; England -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction
"The only trouble is that I can't leave here until after five. I've
asked a man to come and see me this afternoon, and there's no
possible way in which I can put him off."
I did a moment's rapid thinking. "Have you got such a thing as a
time-table?" I enquired.
He handed me an A.B.C. off the mantelpiece, and, hunting up the right
page, I soon found what I wanted.
"The best plan for you," I said, "will be to come straight through to
Martlesea. There's a six o'clock train from Liverpool Street which
gets in at seven-fifteen. I'll go back this afternoon and arrange
with Bobby to pick you up at the station. Then he can bring you over
to Greensea in his motor-boat."
Campbell nodded. "That will do me all right. What time shall we get
in?"
"Oh, somewhere about eight-thirty," I replied "It's not more than a
dozen miles, and you won't hang about on the way--not if Bobby's
driving her." I picked up my hat and coat. "I'd better be clearing
off now," I added. "That will give you a chance to settle up your
affairs and make your will."
With a twinkle in his eyes Campbell held out his hand.
"Well, good-bye for the present," he remarked. "Don't do anything
rash while your friend's away, Mr. Dryden. If you take my advice
you'll just lock yourself in the house and wait there till we arrive."
He walked with me to the front door, and, leaving him standing on the
steps, I made my way back down the alley into the roar and bustle of
Fleet Street.
In answer to my enquiry a friendly policeman directed me to the
nearest post office, where, after a brief deliberation, I sent off
the following wire to Bobby:
"Business satisfactorily arranged. Meet me Pen Mill four
o'clock."
By the time I had handed this in it was already a few minutes past
one, and, feeling that whatever else I had accomplished I had
certainly earned a good lunch, I turned into the Cock Tavern, which
was only half a dozen yards away.
Here I feasted sumptuously on roast saddle of mutton and a bottle of
Burgundy--an excellent wine for anyone who is suffering from the
after-effects of two hours' continuous oratory. There being no
occasion for hurry, I dawdled away another pleasant half hour over a
cigar, and then at a leisurely pace I walked back through the City to
Liverpool Street. At five and twenty to three I was watching the
panorama of East London slip by the carriage window, with Fortnum and
Mason's hamper reposing safely in the opposite rack.
On reaching Torrington station I was fortunate enough to secure the
same ramshackle cab which had carried me to Pen Mill two days before.
Packing myself and the hamper inside, I requested the driver to
repeat the performance, and at a stumbling trot we once more jogged
off through the wet and narrow lanes.
Bobby had evidently received my wire, for as we descended the hill I
caught sight of him strolling in solitary state up and down the hard.
He came forward to meet me, and opened the door of the cab when we
drew up.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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