Quarter to five. Tanner was in desperation. And then to his relief his eye fell on a policeman. It was the work of a moment to call him over, explain the situation, and get him up beside the driver. Then their troubles were over. The streets were empty and they made fine speed. It wanted ten minutes to five as the car pulled up at the docks, and Tanner leaped out and raced to the berth of the great liner. A man whom he instantly recognised as a policeman in plain clothes stood near the bottom of each gangway, while a third was sauntering along the edge of the wharf beside the boat. Tanner spoke hurriedly to the latter. ‘He’s not on board, sir,’ the man answered. ‘We were here before he could have got down from the Town Station, and besides we made inquiries.’ ‘The other side of the ship?’ queried the Inspector. ‘We have a man rowing up and down.’ Tanner grunted. ‘Who’s in charge?’ he asked. ‘Sergeant Holmes. He went to phone the station. He’ll be back directly.’ Tanner was woefully disappointed. He felt that if Douglas was not already aboard he would never risk it now. Had the man, he wondered, been sharper than he had counted on, and once again given him the slip? Fortunately, he had taken the obvious precaution of wiring all the stations at which the 7.32 stopped, so that, even if Douglas had alighted elsewhere, he would almost certainly be spotted. But had Douglas travelled by the 7.32 at all? Was his haste with the taxi and his purchase of the ticket another trick, and was he lying low in Exeter, intending still further to alter his appearance and make a bolt elsewhere? Or was he walking all night with the object of joining a train at some quite different station in the morning? Tanner could not guess. Three minutes only remained and Tanner grew more and more anxious. It was now or never. Then, as the gangways were being hoisted, a sergeant of police appeared and went up to one of the plain clothes men. Tanner hurried forward. ‘Mr Tanner, sir?’ said the sergeant. ‘I’m very sorry, sir, but you’re late.’ ‘Late?’ Tanner cried sharply. ‘What do you mean, sergeant? There’s plenty of time to go on board still.’ The sergeant shook his head. ‘He’s not there, sir. He’s gone. I’ve just learnt that he left by the _Vaal River_. She sailed at four o’clock.’ ‘Damnation!’ cried Tanner angrily. ‘What were you thinking about, sergeant? How in hell did you let him slip through your fingers?’ ‘The man I sent down, sir, missed him. I can’t imagine how he did it, but you’ll hear what he has to say yourself. After I had all—’ ‘I’ll see him,’ said Tanner grimly. ‘How did you find it out?’ ‘I posted the men, sir, first, then I went round them myself. I got to the _Vaal River_’s berth as she was sheering out. I made inquiries at the office. There is no doubt the man booked.’ ‘Where to?’ ‘Tangier, sir.’ ‘H’m—Morocco, and there’s no extradition from there. Where else does the boat call?’