“I want some information,” he said, when the latter appeared, “concerning your procedure with regard to the transport of visitors’ luggage.” “Certainly, Inspector—what is it you wish to know?” “I want to know exactly what occurs when luggage is left here to be forwarded to a visitor’s home. I want full details of the procedure.” “I’ll send for the head porter—he will tell you.” The manager despatched a messenger to find the man required. In a few minutes he stood before them. “This gentleman wishes to ask you some questions about luggage-transport,” said the manager; “tell him all he wants to know.” “Let me take an actual example,” illustrated Bannister. “Suppose when I leave to-morrow, I leave my cabin-trunk behind in my room to be forwarded to my home. The trunk in question we will assume to be labelled properly and correctly addressed—understand?” The porter nodded. “Well,” proceeded the Inspector, “tell me exactly what happens after that.” “The trunk would be brought down here, sir, and placed on the luggage-wagon. From there, I should superintend its removal to our own hotel motor-lorry which would convey it to the station. The driver of the lorry sees it on to the platform.” “H’m,” said Bannister; “how long usually elapses between the trunks going on to the wagon and being put on the lorry?” “That depends, sir,” said the porter, pushing his cap back from his forehead, “and it varies, too. Sometimes, a matter of a few minutes, sometimes in the afternoon, perhaps, the luggage might stand on the wagon down here for a couple of hours.” “As it might on the platform, too,” declared Bannister. He turned sharply to Sergeant Godfrey, “You say there’s nothing been found on the platform that appears to have been substituted for Miss Carruthers’ case?” “Nothing, Inspector.” “Suppose we have a glance at this luggage-wagon, Inspector,” ventured Anthony. “I suppose it’s on duty to-day, isn’t it, porter?” “It is, sir.” “Very well, Mr. Bathurst—I’m perfectly agreeable.” They trooped along the corridor. “There’s the wagon,” pointed out the porter, “standing there by the door. We load the lorry up from here.” Bannister and Godfrey and Anthony walked up to it. “Easily accessible from the street,” demonstrated the last-named with a motion of the hand. “Too easily,” agreed the Inspector. “Tell me,” said Anthony to the porter, “did you see this wagon first thing on Thursday morning?” “Yes, sir.” “Was there any luggage on it?” “It was empty.” The Inspector dismissed the porter curtly and thanked the manager for his assistance. “Anybody intending the changing of those cases or alternatively the stealing of Miss Carruthers’ suit-case—had ample opportunity both here and at the station. All the same—as I said before to the Crown Prince—we may eventually discover that it’s the result of a pure accident.” He turned smartly on his heel.