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He didn't recognise the caller's strong, slightly gruff voice.

When Samuel informed him that William hadn't arrived, the man asked,

can you give me his address?

I'm afraid I can't, Samuel replied.

The man then asked, but will he be there?

I can't say, Samuel answered.

He may or may not.

If he is coming, he will be here shortly.

I suggest you ring up later.

The caller said he was too busy to ring back and stressed the matter's importance, explaining that it was his daughter's 21st birthday and that he wished to arrange something for her that fell within William's nature of business.

I want to see him particularly, the man insisted, before asking Samuel to pass on a message.

With pen in hand, Samuel noted that the man wanted to meet William at 7.30 the following evening at his residence, 25 Menlove Gardens East, in the southeast suburb of Mosley Hill.

Samuel repeated the details, which the caller confirmed.

He also gave his name, R.M.

Qualtrough.

Not long after the call, Samuel Beattie noticed a tall, thin, bespectacled man with a grey moustache seated near the cafe entrance absorbed in a chess match.

It was William Wallace.

He had arrived discreetly moments earlier, removed his hat and coat, and quietly settled in to play his tournament game.

Samuel relayed the message from RM Qualtra to William, who responded…

Qualtra.