"’I am going to the north at once,’ he said. ’Will you come and help?’ "I replied that though anxious to help, I expected to be of more service in taking steps independently. "He tried to persuade me to alter my determination, but seeing that I was fixed upon it, left to catch his train. "’It is possible,’ I said, ’that you may see Vera back to-morrow about this time; and if she comes, deal kindly with her, and remember that nothing which has happened will make any difference to my intentions.’ "’I believe,’ he replied, ’either that you are mad, or know something of this.’ "’I may be mad,’ I answered, ’but don’t forget.’ "I arrived at Liverpool later than I expected, and having no knowledge of the town, thought it would be safer to discover which boat started at nine, and watch that rather than risk hunting for the hotel. I, however, drove first to the house of a friend of mine, Mrs. Freshfield, who lived at Woolton, a suburb a few miles outside the city. I briefly explained my position, also that of the girl, and her kindly heart was soon roused to help me if possible. "’Why don’t you communicate with the police?’ she said. "’I shall,’ I replied, ’as a last resource, but hope to be able to work without their assistance, so as to avoid making any scandal.’ "She was also very anxious to know how the plot had been discovered, but, not wishing to tell her, I excused myself on the ground of time, and receiving her promise to wait for me at a certain place near the docks from eight to nine, I left, and hurried back to the city to complete my arrangements. "It was now past five, and already growing dusk, as I went to a private detective office, and requested to see the chief officer. When told briefly the facts of the case, he seemed very doubtful whether the law could help me if the girl was leaving of her own will. "I replied that if so the law was iniquitous, which he seemed to think very probable; at the same time the fact did not help us. But when I pointed out that this was a case in which money was of no consequence, and that if it should cost £5000 it must be done, he immediately altered his tone. "’You have come to the right place,’ he said, his face visibly brightening, ’for we act for the public, not for the Government, and money can do pretty well anything. Are you prepared to swear, if necessary, to an indictable offence against this man?’ "I told him I would swear anything rather than that harm should happen to the girl. "’You will not mind leaving a guarantee in the way of money?’ he asked. "I satisfied him on this point also. "Finally it was arranged that if I could not get Vera away secretly, he should be prepared to have Vancome arrested. He, however, warned me that we were running a considerable risk, and let me fully understand that he intended to deny all knowledge of my real motives. "Having settled this matter, I went down to the docks, found out the vessel and waited.