This done, I set to work to study
it, and to arrange a series of walks by which I should
pass through every street of the place. You have no idea
what that means until you try to do it. I used to have
breakfast, get out about ten, walk till one, have a cheap
luncheon (I can do well on three-pence), walk till four,
get back and note results. On my map I put a cross for
every empty house and a circle for every doctor. So at
the end of that time I had a complete chart of the whole
place, and could see at a glance where there was a
possible opening, and what opposition there was at each
point.
In the meantime I had enlisted a most unexpected
ally. On the second evening a card was solemnly brought
up by the landlady's daughter from the lodger who
occupied the room below. On it was inscribed "Captain
Whitehall"; and then underneath, in brackets, "Armed
Transport." On the back of the card was written,
"Captain Whitehall (Armed Transport) presents his
compliments to Dr. Munro, and would be glad of his
company to supper at 8.30." To this I answered, "Dr.
Munro presents his compliments to Captain Whitehall
(Armed Transport), and will be most happy to accept his
kind invitation." What "Armed Transport" might mean I
had not an idea, but I thought it well to include it, as
he seemed so particular about it himself.
On descending I found a curious-looking figure in a
gray dressing-gown with a purple cord.
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