"Because I was in the office about five, and it had not come then. I thought it might come after I left, so I appointed St. Clement's Church as the meeting-place where the boy might find me." "And you obeyed?" "What was in the telegram?" "A request that I should come down to Taxton-on-Thames at once." "Yes, there was no reason why I should not. I thought that Anne was in trouble; I went down at once on my bicycle." "Why did not you go by train? It would have been easier." "Not for me. I was in the habit of running down to Taxton-on-Thames on my machine; it is only two hours' run." "Had you your machine in town?" "Yes; I had left it at a shop in the Strand where I usually leave it; though sometimes I ride it on to the office in Fleet Street. On this occasion it was in the Strand. As soon as I got the telegram I left my troupe and went off on my bicycle. "Didn't you wash your face?" "Not at that time; I was in such a hurry and so anxious to learn what was the matter with Anne, that I did not think of doing so. I rode along until I was recalled to the spectacle I must have presented, by the laughing, and the guying of the boys. Then I thought that I might startle Anne, and I determined to wash myself." "And did you?" "Not immediately. On the way to Richmond I had an accident, and the tyre of my back wheel was punctured. The air escaped, and I was over an hour mending it. Then I had to go slowly, and did not get to Richmond till after eight o'clock. I went into the hotel called the Eight Bells, and had a drink and a wash. Then I came out a white man to the astonishment of the barman, and went on down to Taxton-on-Thames. I got there shortly after nine o'clock." "Didn't you nearly run over a man as you neared the village?" "Yes, I did," said Hersham, in some astonishment. "But how do you know that?" "I'll tell you later on," replied Fanks, smiling. "But about the result of your trip to Taxton-on-Thames?" Hersham's face fell. "There was no result," he said, in a low voice. "When I arrived I went at once to Briar Cottage and asked for Anne. I was told that she had gone up to town by the five o'clock train." "Gone up to town!" repeated Fanks. "That is curious. Why did she go up to town after sending you a wire to bring you down?" "I can't say. She returned by the night train, and I was at the station to meet her. I asked her why she had gone to town, and she refused to tell me. She merely said that she had sent the wire shortly before five o'clock, and that she had found occasion to go up by the five train." "Can you conjecture what took her to town?" "No; and she will not tell me." Fanks said nothing. He was meditating on the strange story told to him by Hersham, and on the stranger conduct of Anne Colmer. The mystery concerning this young lady, which had begun in the chambers of Sir Gregory, seemed to be thickening. Fanks was puzzled and gloomy. CHAPTER XXIV. THE CLUE OF THE HANDWRITING.