They recovered the
bodies this morning."
"Everything else seems to have been washed on shore except my coat,"
Sir Henry grumbled. "I was down here at daylight, looking for it."
"Your coat!" Philippa repeated scornfully. "Fancy thinking of that,
when you only just escaped with your life!"
"But to tell you the truth, my dear," Sir Henry explained, "my
pocketbook and papers of some value were in the pocket of that coat.
I can't think how I came to forget them. I think it was the surprise
of seeing that fellow Lessingham crawl on to the wreck looking like
a drowned rat. Jove, what a pluck he must have!"
"The fishermen can talk of nothing else," Nora put in excitedly.
"Mummy, it was simply splendid! Helen and I had gone up with two of
the rescued men, but I got back just in time to see them fasten the
rope round his waist and watch him plunge in."
"How is he this morning?" Helen asked.
"Gone," Philippa replied.
They all looked at her in surprise.
"Gone?" Sir Henry repeated. "What, back to the hotel, do you mean?"
"His bed has not been slept in," Philippa told them. "He must have
slipped away early this morning, gone to Hill's Garage, hired a car,
and motored to Norwich. From there he went on to London. He has
sent word that he will be back in a few days."
"I hope to God he won't!" Sir Henry muttered.
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