The Stolen Statesman: Being the Story of a Hushed Up Mystery. Le Queux William

      So he kept resolutely at his post, lounging up and down the street, with his glance ever alert for any likely stranger who should come along.

      An hour passed, and then the minutes went very slowly. He kept looking at his watch. Smeaton was sure the strange man would come back for a further communication. Putting himself in the man’s place, he reasoned that he had wired a reply to Mrs Saxton, and that he would allow himself a certain time for his wire to reach London, and the return wire to get to Brighton.