Ayscough, like most men of his calling in London, had a considerable
amount of general knowledge of things and affairs, and he summoned it to
his aid in this instance. He knew that if the Japanese really had become
possessed of the orange and yellow diamond (of which supposition, in spite
of Mirandolet's positive convictions, he was very sceptical) he would most
certainly make for escape. He would be off to the Continent, hot foot.
Now, Ayscough had a good acquaintance with the Continental train services
--some hours must elapse before Yada could possibly get a train for Dover,
or Folkstone, or Newhaven, or the shortest way across, or to any other
ports such as Harwich or Southampton, by a longer route. Obviously, the
first thing to do was to have the stations at Victoria, and Charing Cross,
and Holborn Viaduct, and London Bridge carefully watched for Yada. And for
two weary hours in the middle of the night he was continuously at work on
the telephone, giving instructions and descriptions, and making
arrangements to spread a net out of which the supposed fugitive could not
escape.
And when all that was at last satisfactorily arranged, Ayscough was
conscious that it might be for nothing.
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