"Bless me!" I cried, glancing at the clock, "you haven't time, it is after five now." "Ample time, Whatson--ample," he murmured, without changing his position. "I give myself a minute and a half to change slippers and dressing gown for boots and coat, three seconds for hat, twenty-five seconds to the street, forty-two seconds waiting for a hansom, and then seven at the terminus before the express starts. I shall be glad of your company." I was only too happy to have the privilege of going with him. It was most interesting to watch the workings of so inscrutable a mind. As we drove under the lofty iron roof of the terminus I noticed a look of annoyance pass over his face. "We are fifteen seconds ahead of our time," he remarked, looking at the big clock. "I dislike having a miscalculation of that sort occur." The great Scotch Express stood ready for its long journey. The detective tapped one of the guards on the shoulder. "You have heard of the so-called Pegram mystery, I presume?" "Certainly, sir. It happened on this very train, sir." "Really? Is the same carriage still on the train?" "Well, yes, sir, it is," replied the guard, lowering his voice, "but of course, sir, we have to keep very quiet about it. People wouldn't travel in it, else, sir." "Doubtless. Do you happen to know if anybody occupies the compartment in which the body was found?" "A lady and gentleman, sir; I put 'em in myself, sir." "Would you further oblige me," said the detective, deftly slipping half-a-sovereign into the hand of the guard, "by going to the window and informing them in an offhand casual sort of way that the tragedy took place in that compartment?" "Certainly, sir." We followed the guard, and the moment he had imparted his news there was a suppressed scream in the carriage. Instantly a lady came out, followed by a florid-faced gentleman, who scowled at the guard. We entered the now empty compartment, and Kombs said: "We would like to be alone here until we reach Brewster." "I'll see to that, sir," answered the guard, locking the door. When the official moved away, I asked my friend what he expected to find in the carriage that would cast any light on the case. "Nothing," was his brief reply. "Then why do you come?" "Merely to corroborate the conclusions I have already arrived at." "And may I ask what those conclusions are?" "Certainly," replied the detective, with a touch of lassitude in his voice. "I beg to call your attention, first, to the fact that this train stands between two platforms, and can be entered from either side. Any man familiar with the station for years would be aware of that fact. This shows how Mr. Kipson entered the train just before it started." "But the door on this side is locked," I objected, trying it.