the run and is rumoured to be in South America. Pyne goes to the cinema and then to a somewhat seedy nightclub. In the club, he finds a slightly drunken Captain Smethurst. Smethurst seems depressed, but is vague as to the reason why. He claims that he does not "like to go back on a pal". Pyne introduces his profession, glibly announcing that he is a sort of "confidence trickster". This prompts a strange reaction from the Captain, who asks, "What – you too?" The journey starts the next day. The bus driver is worried about the possibility of them getting stuck in the desert mud after their stop at Ar Rutba. There have been heavy rains in the area. Sure enough, the bus does become bogged down as it drives through the night. The men step out to assist in freeing it. As they work, they realise that Smethurst is not assisting in their effort. When O'Rourke investigates, he finds the Captain's corpse in his seat. Loftus, a doctor in the RAF, suggests that he may have hit his head on the roof of the vehicle as it went over one of the heavy bumps on the ground. Loftus examines the corpse, and declares that he cannot find an obvious wound. The only other possibility is that he was hit with something in the nature of a sandbag whilst the other passengers were asleep. As the passengers discuss the reason why someone would do such a thing, Williamson remembers overhearing a conversation that Smethurst had with an unknown third party in Damascus. Smethurst said that he would keep quiet, until they arrived in Baghdad. But not a moment longer. Pyne joins in with his story of his own conversation with the dead man in the nightclub. Loftus also recalls Smethurst talking to Hensley about "a leakage" in his department. Recalling that Hensley said he always carried spare socks with him, Pyne suggests that Loftus should fetch these. Sure enough, one is found to contain wet sand. Pyne now knows the murderer. Pyne examines the body more closely. Loosening the collar, he finds a small stab wound made by something in the nature of a stiletto. Pyne suggests that within their party is the absconding financier Samuel Long, who is travelling in disguise. Smethurst knew of this, which would explain his unusual reaction to Pyne's statement that he works as