The sentry glanced left, then right.
"'E's a slipping off all by 'imself down to Osborne by the 6.40 from
Waterloo. Nobody knows it--'cept, o' course, just a few of us. That's
'is way all over. 'E just 'ates--"
A footstep sounded down the corridor. The sentry became statuesque.
At Waterloo, Tommy inspected the 6.40 train. Only one compartment
indicated possibilities, an extra large one at the end of the coach next
the guard's van. It was labelled "Reserved," and in the place of the
usual fittings was furnished with a table and four easy-chairs. Having
noticed its position, Tommy took a walk up the platform and disappeared
into the fog.
Twenty minutes later, Prince Blank stepped hurriedly across the platform,
unnoticed save by half a dozen obsequious officials, and entered the
compartment reserved for him. The obsequious officials bowed. Prince
Blank, in military fashion, raised his hand. The 6.40 steamed out
slowly.
Prince Blank, who was a stout gentleman, though he tried to disguise the
fact, seldom found himself alone. When he did, he generally indulged
himself in a little healthy relaxation. With two hours' run to
Southampton before him, free from all possibility of intrusion, Prince
Blank let loose the buttons of his powerfully built waistcoat, rested his
bald head on the top of his chair, stretched his great legs across
another, and closed his terrible, small eyes.
For an instant it seemed to Prince Blank that a draught had entered into
the carriage. As, however, the sensation immediately passed away, he did
not trouble to wake up. Then the Prince dreamed that somebody was in the
carriage with him--was sitting opposite to him. This being an annoying
sort of dream, the Prince opened his eyes for the purpose of dispelling
it. There was somebody sitting opposite to him--a very grimy little
person, wiping blood off its face and hands with a dingy handkerchief.
Had the Prince been a man capable of surprise, he would have been
surprised.
"It's all right," assured him Tommy. "I ain't here to do any harm. I
ain't an Anarchist."
The Prince, by a muscular effort, retired some four or five inches and
commenced to rebutton his waistcoat.
"How did you get here?" asked the Prince.
"'Twas a bigger job than I'd reckoned on," admitted Tommy, seeking a dry
inch in the smeared handkerchief, and finding none. "But that don't
matter," added Tommy cheerfully, "now I'm here."
"If you do not wis
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