police would be asked to keep a sharp look-out on passengers arriving
on all boats from Europe. Descriptions would also be sent to the
police head-quarters in every European capital.

In face of that, what more could I do?

The situation had become unbearable. Sylvia's unaccountable action had
plunged me into a veritable sea of despair. The future seemed blank
and hopeless.

Just before eight o'clock I strolled back to the police-office and
reported myself, as it were. The superintendent expressed himself
perfectly satisfied with the replies he had received from London, and,
with apologies, gave me leave to depart.

"Inquiry is being made along the roads in every direction from here,"
he said. "We hear that the three men and the woman called at the Bell,
at Barnby Moor, and had some breakfast. Afterwards they continued
northward."

"Barnby Moor!" I echoed. "Why, that's near Doncaster."

"Yes, sir. Motorists patronize the place a good deal."

"And is that all that is known?" I inquired eagerly.

"All at present," he said. Therefore I left and, returning to the
garage, mounted the car and, with head-lamps alight, drove out into
the pitch darkness in the direction of Grantham. We sped along the
broad old coach-road for nearly three hours, until at last we pulled
up before an ancient wayside inn which had been modernized and adapted
to twentieth-century requirements.

The manager, in reply to my eager questions, said it was true that the
Doncaster police had been there making inquiries regarding four
motorists--three gentlemen and a lady--who had called there that
morning and had had breakfast in the coffee-room.

The head-waiter who had attended them was called, and I questioned
him. I think the manager believed me to be a detective, for he was
most courteous, and ready to give me all information.

"Yes, sir," replied the tall, slim head-waiter. "They came here in a
great hurry, and seemed to have come a long distance, judging from the
way the car was plastered with mud. The lady was very cold, for they
had an open car, and she wore a gentleman's overcoat and a shawl tied
around her head. The tallest of the gentlemen drove the car. They
called him Lewis."

"Did you hear them address the lady?" I asked eagerly.

"They called her Sonia, sir."

"And you say she seemed very fatigued?"

"Very. She went upstairs and changed her evening gown for a stuff
dress, which was brought out of the car. Then she came do