Mr. Inspector speedily returning down the wooden stairs, with a police constable, Lightwood asked him if he had seen his friend leave them? Mr. Inspector could not exactly say that he had seen him go, but had noticed that he was restless.

“Singular and entertaining combination, sir, your friend.”

“I wish it had not been a part of his singular entertaining combination to give me the slip under these dreary circumstances at this time of the morning,” said Lightwood. “Can we get anything hot to drink?”