The stranger didn’t answer; he appeared to be sleeping--sleeping, however, with considerate care not to crumple the beautiful flannel suit The train raced on. A clear, sea-look was appearing above the Sussex Downs, like the bright reflection of a mirror flashing. It was exasperating. They would soon be at Brighton and this man would escape them with his valuable knowledge. On the second message they sent back to Mr. Hughes they wrote, “_A mystingry_.” On the third, “_The mystingry deepens_.” Brakes began to grind, slowing down the train as they neared their destination. The man sat up. “Best be putting on my shoes.” Ruddy seized his last opportunity. “Look here, it ’ud be awfully decent of you if you’d tell us.” “Tell you?” “How to cater to people’s vanities. How to live without doing a stroke of work. My father’s been trying for years--he’s a promoter. You might tell us.” “So your father’s a promoter!” The man was pulling on his spats. “Well, I’ll give you a hint and let you reason the rest out There are more women in the world than men, aren’t there? The women are always trying to win the men’s affection. The way in which they think they can do it is by being beautiful. There!” “That’s a long stoop,” said Ruddy; “let me button them for you.” By the time the spats were buttoned they had come to a halt in the station. The man stood up. “Here’s my card. We may meet again.” He jumped out of the carriage, leaving Ruddy turning his card over. It bore no address, only a name, _Duke Ninevah_. “Not _the Duke of_,” whispered Teddy, peering over his shoulder, “so it can’t be a title.” “Here, come on,” said Ruddy. “Let’s follow him.” Further down the platform they saw Duke Ninevah helping a lady from a first-class carriage. She was slight and extremely stylish; even at that distance they guessed she must be beautiful. They had begun to follow when they remembered that they had left the empty pigeon boxes behind. They dashed back to find them; when they again looked up and down the platform, Duke Ninevah and his lady had vanished. “Must be traceable,” said Ruddy. “Here, let’s leave these things at the parcel-room and clear for action. Now then, let’s use our intellecks. What does one come to the seaside for? To see the sea. We’ll find him either in it or beside it Why does one bring a lady to Brighton? To make love to her, and to make love one needs to be private. We’ve to find a private place by the sea, and then he’s cornered.” “And what about the pierrots?” “Let ’em wait. Humph!”