one o'clock before
I went down to the beach and indulged in a swim , and , returning to the hotel , amazed the waiter by ordering and doing justice to a second breakfast before taking my departure . On leaving the hotel , my first consideration was to get my tank refilled , and , that done , I sent off a couple of wires , one to Evie and the other addressed to Forrest , at my own place , telling each of them to communicate with me at Sutgrove Hall if anything happened , for it was my intention to call at my home if I could possibly manage to do so . My next business was to search for traces of Mannering in Yarmouth , but it was some time before I ascertained that the man I imagined to be he , had left by the coast road through Caister . It was a tedious job to track him through the Norfolk lanes , for he had turned and doubled as if anxious to throw a pursuer off the scent , and it was one o'clock before I eventually struck the high-road between Norwich and Cromer . There I finally lost him , owing chiefly to the fact that the day was fine , and a large number of motor-cars were on the road in consequence . By this time I was beginning to think my impulsive action to be more than a little foolish , but in order that my journey should not be altogether wasted , I determined to run on to Cromer , lunch there , and afterwards proceed to Sheringham , near which delightful village my home was situated , and seize the opportunity to make arrangements with my aunt for Evie 's visit . In pursuance of this plan , in half an hour 's time , I walked into the dining-room of the Royal Hotel at Cromer .