Aurora Floyd: Volume 3

Mr. William Dork, the constable, reached Doncaster at about a quarter-past one o'clock upon themorning after the murder, and drove straight to the Reindeer. That hotel had been closed for acouple of hours, and it was only by the exercise of his authority that Mr. Dork obtained access, anda hearing from the sleepy landlord. The young man who had driven Mr. Prodder was found afterconsiderable difficulty, and came stumbling down the servants' staircase in a semi-somnolent state toanswer the constable's inquiries. He had driven the seafaring gentleman, whose name he did notknow, direct to the Doncaster station, in time to catch the mail-train, which started at 12.50. He hadparted with the gentleman at the door of the station three minutes before the train started.This was all the information that Mr. Dork could obtain. If he had been a sharp London detective, he might have made his arrangements for laying hands upon the fugitive sailor at the first station atwhich the train stopped; but being merely a simple rural functionary, he scratched his stubbled head, and stared at the landlord of the Reindeer in utter mental bewilderment."He was in a devil of a hurry, this chap," he muttered rather sulkily. "What did he want to coot awayfor?"The young man who had acted as charioteer could not answer this question. He only knew that theseafaring gentleman had promised him half a sovereign if he caught the mail-train, and that he hadearned his rewar