“I see’d ’er,” the old woman replied. “I’ve never knowed such goings on, that I ’aven’t.”
“What happened?” Charles asked sharply.
“’Er comes out of the door over there,” she told him pointing with her finger. “Two men there was, waitin’ for ’er. One puts a blanket over ’er ’ead. The other two puts ropes around ’er and they takes ’er in their arms.”
Charles drew in his breath.
“They took her to a boat?”
“Yes, sir, a big boat ’twas.”
“How many men were rowing it?”
“I dunno, but a lot. Perhaps ten or twelve.”
“Thank you! Thank you!” cried Charles.
Turning round he started to run and he ran quicker than he had ever run in his life.
He reached the road that ran along the Embankment and increased his speed.
He only had to travel a little over a hundred yards when he saw what he was se
