rical character just
named, to go alone for your sins. For on your ten-to-one odds that
Farrell breaks for home it's obvious that I remain and keep goal.
Now what you have to do is to make for the bank and get out some
money, while I take a swim in the tank here. After that," added
Jimmy, relapsing into frivolity, "I'll look up the Trades Directory
for a respectable firm dealing in strait-waistcoats."

Well, there is no need to tell of my chase to Biarritz; for I
arrived there only to be baulked. The porter who entered my name in
elegant script, with many flourishes, in the Hotel Visitors' Book,
informed me that the English Doctor had departed--it was four hours
ago--to catch the night express for Paris. Here was the entry--
"Dr. J. Foe, Chelsea, London." He had left no other address.
"Had he a companion?" No, none. He had passed his time in solitary
rambles: but on this, the last day, he had spent some time in writing
furiously, up to the moment of departure.

The porter moved away to clear the letter-box, which stood pretty
near the end of the table. I examined the register. Farrell's name
was not among the entries.

They had assigned me my room, and I was about to take the lift and
inspect, when I heard the porter say to himself, "_Tiens, c'est
drole, maintenant_." He had the bundle of cleared letters in his hand
and held out one. It was addressed to me in Jack's handwriting.

I pounced for it. "_C'est a moi--Ceci s'expliquera, sans doute_."
The porter hesitated. "_Une lettre timbree--c'est contre les regies,
sinon contre la loi . . . mais puisque c'est pour monsieur,
apparement_--"

A ten-franc piece did the rest. I took the letter up to my chamber
where I opened it and read--

[FOE to OTWAY]

"Grand Hotel, Biarritz.

"Dear Roddy,--I am obliged to you by receipt of your silly
lawyer's letter enclosing 100 pounds; though what kind of
salve it can spread on your conscience to commission a fellow
called Norgate to do what you won't do at first hand I fail to
perceive. However, have it your own way. I have an enemy who,
with a little training, won't give me time to worry about my
friends.

"Farrell is improving. It was difficult at first to get a move
on a man of his stupidity, and I could only work on his one
sensitive nerve, which is cowardice. He has imagination enough