luggage. They were obliged to investigate a reported theft, and the more Augusta protested the more suspicious they would be.
Suppose she claimed the snuffboxes were hers? It was hard to prove anything on the spot. If that happened, Hugh decided he would propose that the police take custody of the valuables while they investigated the contradictory claims.
He controlled his impatience as the white fields of Wimbledon sped by. A hundred thousand pounds was a big chunk of the money Pilasters Bank owed. He was not going to let Augusta steal it. The snuffboxes also symbolized the family's determination to pay off its debts. If Augusta was allowed to make off with them, people would say the Pilasters were grabbing what they could, just like any ordinary embezzlers. The thought made Hugh angry.
It was still snowing when the train reached Southampton. Hugh was leaning out of the carriage window as the engine puffed into the station. There were uniformed policemen everywhere. That meant Micky had not yet been caught, Hugh inferred.
He jumped off while the train was still moving and got to the ticket barrier before anyone else. He spoke to a police inspector. 'I'm the Senior Partner of Pilasters Bank,' he said, giving the inspector his card. 'I know you're looking for a murderer, but there's a woman on this train who is carrying stolen property worth a hundred thousand pounds belonging to the bank. I believe she is planning to leave the country on the Aztec tonight, taking it with her.'
'What property would that be, Mr. Pilaster?' said the inspector.
'A collection of jeweled snuffboxes.'
'And the name of the woman?'
'She's the dowager countess of Whitehaven.'
The policeman raised his eyebrows. 'I do read the newspapers, sir. I take it this is all to do with the failure of the bank.'
Hugh nodded. 'Those snuffboxes must be sold to help pay people who have lost their money.'
'Can you point out Lady Whitehaven to me?'
Hugh looked along the platform, peering through the falling snow. 'That's her, by the luggage van, in the big hat with bird's wings on it.' She was supervising the unloading of her bags.
The inspector nodded. 'Very well. Stay here with me at the ticket barrier. We'll detain her as she passes through.'
Hugh was tense as he watched the passengers stream off the train and out. Although he was fairly certain Micky was not on the train, nevertheless he scrutinized the face of every passenger.
Augusta was the last to leave. Three porters were carrying her luggage. When she saw Hugh at the ticket barrier she turned pale.
The inspector was all politeness. 'Pardon me, Lady Whitehaven. May I have a word?'
Hugh had never seen Augusta so frightened, but she had not lost her queenly manner. 'I'm afraid I can't spare the time, officer,' she said coolly. 'I have to board a ship that is sailing tonight.'
'I guarantee the Aztec won't leave without you, my lady,' the inspector said smoothly. He glanced at the porters and said: 'You can put those down for a minute, lads.' He turned back to Augusta. 'Mr. Pilaster here claims you have in your possession some very valuable snuffboxes that belong to him. Is that so?'
She began to look less alarmed--which puzzled Hugh. It worried him, too: he was afraid she might have something up her sleeve. 'I don't see why I should answer such impertinent questions,' she said arrogantly.
'If you don't, I shall have to look through your bags.'
'Very well, I do have the snuffboxes,' she said. 'But they belong to me. They were my husband's.'
The inspector turned to Hugh. 'What do you say to that, Mr. Pilaster?'
'They were her husband's, but he left them to his son Edward Pilaster; and Edward's possessions are forfeit to the bank. Lady Whitehaven is trying to steal them.'
The inspector said: 'I must ask you both to come to the police station while these allegations are investigated.'
Augusta looked panicky. 'But I can't miss my sailing!'
'In that case, the only thing I can suggest is that you leave the disputed property in the care of the police. It will be returned to you if your claims are verified.'
Augusta hesitated. Hugh knew it would break her heart to part with so much wealth. But surely she could see it was inevitable? She had been caught red-handed and she was lucky she was not going to jail.
'Where are the snuffboxes, my lady?' said the inspector.
Hugh waited.
Augusta pointed to a suitcase. 'They're all in there.'
'The key, please?'
Again she hesitated; again she gave in. She took out a small ring of luggage keys, selected one, and handed it over.
The inspector opened the case. It was full of shoe bags. Augusta pointed to one of the bags. The inspector opened it and drew out a light wooden cigar box. He lifted the lid to reveal numerous small objects carefully wrapped in paper. Selecting one at random, he unwrapped it. It was a small gold box inlaid with diamond chips in the design of a lizard.
Hugh let out a long sigh of relief.
The inspector looked at Hugh. 'Do you know how many there should be, sir?'
Everyone in the family did. 'Sixty-five,' said Hugh. 'One for every year of Uncle Joseph's life.'
'Would you like to count them?'
Augusta said: 'They're all there.'
Hugh counted them anyway. There were sixty-five. He began to feel the pleasure of victory.
The inspector took the box and passed it to another policeman. 'If you would like to go with Constable Neville to the police station, he will give you an official receipt for the goods, my lady.'
'Send it to the bank,' she said. 'May I go now?'
Hugh was uneasy. Augusta was disappointed, but not devastated. It was almost as if there was something else she was worried about, something more important to her than the snuffboxes. And where was Micky Miranda?
The inspector bowed, and Augusta went out, followed by her three heavily laden porters.
'Thank you very much, Inspector,' said Hugh. 'I'm only sorry you didn't catch Miranda as well.'
'We will, sir. He won't get aboard the Aztec unless he's learned how to fly.'
The guard from the luggage van came along the platform pushing a wheelchair. He stopped in front of Hugh and the inspector and said: 'Now what am I supposed to do with
