When he questioned the boy, whose name was Hobbs, he learned that Ligsey had come down and left the letter. Mr. Reeder went aft and found the hatchway over the little engine-room unfastened, and descended into the strong-smelling depths where the engine was housed. It was here evidently that Attymar remained during his short voyages. There was a signal bell above his head, and a comfortable armchair had been fixed within reach of the levers. His search here was a short one. Inside an open locker he found a small, square package, wrapped in oiled paper, and a glance at the label told him its contents, even though he did not read Dutch. Returning to the boy, he questioned him closely. It was no unusual thing for Attymar to pick up his mate from the barge. The boy had once seen the launch, and described it as a very small tender. He knew nothing of Mr. Southers, had never seen him on board the ship, though occasionally people did come, on which occasions he was sent below. At his request, Mr. Reeder was put ashore at Greenwich and got on the telephone to Gaylor. It was now two o’clock in the morning, and much had happened. “We arrested that man Southers; found his trousers covered with blood. He admits he was at Attymar’s house to-night, and tells a cock-and-bull story of what he did subsequently. He didn’t get home till nearly twelve.” “Extraordinary,” said Mr. Reeder, and the mildness of the comment evidently irritated Inspector Gaylor. “That’s one way of putting it, but I think we’ve made a pretty good capture,” he said. “We’ve got enough evidence to hang him. Attymar’s left all sorts of notes on his invoices.” “Amazing,” said Mr. Reeder, and gathered from the abruptness with which he was cut off that, for some mysterious reason, he had annoyed the man at Scotland Yard. He sent back a short report with the documents and the drugs to Scotland Yard, and drove home by taxi. It was three o’clock by the time he reached Brockley Road, and he was not surprised to find his housekeeper up and to hear that Anna Welford was waiting for him. She was very white and her manner was calm. “You’ve heard about Johnny being arrested----” she began. Mr. Reeder nodded. “Yes, I gave them the necessary information as to where he was to be found,” he said, and he saw the colour come and go in her face. “I--I suppose you--you had to do your duty?” she said haltingly. “But you know it’s not true, Mr. Reeder. You know Johnny… he couldn’t…” Her voice choked. Mr. Reeder shook his head. “I don’t know Johnny really,” he said apologetically. “He is--um--the merest acquaintance, Miss Welford. I am not saying that in disparagement of him, because obviously quite a number of people who aren’t my friends are respectable citizens. Did you see him before he was arrested?” She nodded. “Immediately before?”