“I suppose you found it rather a dull ride last time. It’s a longish way. They might have fitted the carriage with an inside lamp. But we shall have to make it a quicker passage tonight. Governor says Mr. Graves is uncommon bad.”

With this he slammed the door and locked it. I drew the board from my pocket, laid it on my knee, glanced at my watch, and, as the coachman climbed to his seat, I made the first entry in the little book.

“8:58 W. by S. Start from home. Horse 13 hands.”

The first move of the carriage on starting was to turn round as if heading for Newington Butts, and the second entry accordingly read: