Stifling a somewhat weary sigh, I returned the book to its place and lingered looking out of the open window into the deepening dusk. Mentally my mood was a restless one, but it did not reflect itself physically; for I stood there leaning against the window whilst a procession of all the figures associated with the "_Oritoga_ mystery" raced through my mind. And presently as I stood there contemplating a mental image of the Eurasian doctor, I heard the telephone bell ring. The sound aroused me in a moment, and walking out into the little ante-room in which the instrument was placed, I took it up--anticipating Coates, who had immediately come in from the garden where he was engaged at the time. "Hello!" I said. A voice with which I was unfamiliar, a man's voice speaking rather thickly, replied: "Is that Mr. Addison?" "Yes." "I have just arrived from Crossleys with Inspector Gatton. He requests me to ask you to meet him by the police-box at the corner of the high street immediately." "Very good," I said. "I will come." "And," continued the voice--"could you spare Coates with the car for an hour?" "Certainly," I replied. "For what do you want him?" "If he will take the car to Denmark Hill Station and be there by a quarter past eight," continued the voice, "Detective-Sergeant Blythe will meet him. There is a large box," he added, "which Inspector Gatton wishes to have taken to your house." "Very well," I said. "Coates will start in ten minutes' time, and I will come along immediately to meet Inspector Gatton." I replaced the telephone upon the little table and went out into the garden, whither my man had returned. "Coates," I said, "get out the Rover." Coates immediately ceased his gardening operations and stood upright in an attitude of attention. "Very good, sir." "You will just have time to get ready at the garage and return here to admit Sir Eric Coverly at eight o'clock. I am going out, now, to meet Inspector Gatton. But inform Sir Eric that I shall be back in a few minutes. Show him into the study and make him comfortable. You will then proceed in the Rover to Denmark Hill Station. You will meet there a man with a box--a detective from Scotland Yard who will make himself known to you. His name is Blythe. You have to bring the box back here." "Very good, sir," repeated Coates.