sers unless he's going
boating on a fine day, or going to play cricket, or going to play lawn
tennis. We may cross off the boating at once. Simpkins wouldn't go in
a boat voluntarily, even on the finest day. We may also exclude
cricket; because there's no cricket within fifty miles of Ballymoy in
any direction. There only remains tennis; so we may take it as certain
that it is lawn tennis which Simpkins has gone to play. You follow me
so far, I suppose, Doyle."

"It might be what they call golf."

"No, it couldn't. You don't understand these things, Doyle; but, as a
matter of fact, no one plays golf in white trousers. It wouldn't be
considered proper, and so we may be perfectly certain that Simpkins
wouldn't do it."

"I wouldn't say," said Doyle, "that you're much nearer knowing where
he's gone to."

"Not much, but I am a little. I happen to know--Sabina's red-haired
cousin told me--that he has taken a packet of sandwiches with him and
doesn't expect to be home till late. It follows from that that he's
not playing tennis in this immediate neighbourhood. It also follows
that he isn't going to any friend's house. Nobody ever brings
sandwiches to a private tennis party. Therefore Simpkins must have
gone to play at some sort of club."

"Unless it would be at Donard," said Doyle, "I don't know where there'd
be a thing of the kind."

"Right," said Meldon. "And, as a matter of fact, there is a club at
Donard. I know that, because I was once invited to play there in a
tournament. I think we may feel tolerably certain that Simpkins is
there. Let me see now. It's not quite one o'clock. If I ride
fast--I'll borrow the doctor's bicycle. I can't stand this loose pedal
of yours any more. If I ride fast I'll be there by half-past two. Say
twenty minutes to three. Allowing for twenty minutes in which to
persuade Simpkins to start home at once, I ought to be on my way back
by three. I'll hustle him along a bit, and there's no reason that I
can see why he shouldn't be at Ballymoy House by half-past five."

"You'll never do all that," said Doyle. "Is it likely he'll go with
you?"

"It's not exactly likely, but he will. I shall speak to him in such a
way that he practically must. Get me the doctor's bicycle at once."

"If it's that you want," said Doyle, "you haven't far to go to look for
it. It's within in the hall this minute, for he left it here last
night, saying he'd be round for it this morning.