The
ROME
EXPRESS
By
Arthur
Griffiths
With
a
frontispiece
in
colours
By
Arthur
O
.
Scott
1907
CHAPTER
I
The
Rome
Express
,
the
direttissimo
,
or
most
direct
,
was
approaching
Paris
one
morning
in
March
,
when
it
became
known
to
the
occupants
of
the
sleeping-car
that
there
was
something
amiss
,
very
much
amiss
,
in
the
car
.
The
train
was
travelling
the
last
stage
,
between
Laroche
and
Paris
,
a
run
of
a
hundred
miles
without
a
stop
.
It
had
halted
at
Laroche
for
early
breakfast
,
and
many
,
if
not
all
the
passengers
,
had
turned
out
.
Of
those
in
the
sleeping-car
,
seven
in
number
,
six
had
been
seen
in
the
restaurant
,
or
about
the
platform
;
the
seventh
,
a
lady
,
had
not
stirred
.
All
had
reëntered
their
berths
to
sleep
or
doze
when
the
train
went
on
,
but
several
were
on
the
move
as
it
neared
Paris
,
taking
their
turn
at
the
lavatory
,
calling
for
water
,
towels
,
making
the
usual
stir
of
preparation
as
the
end
of
a
journey
was
at
hand
.
There
were
many
calls
for
the
porter
,
yet
no
porter
appeared
.
At
last
the
attendant
was
found
—
lazy
villain
!
--asleep
,
snoring
loudly
,
stertorously
,
in
his
little
bunk
at
the
end
of
the
car
.
He
was
roused
with
difficulty
,
and
set
about
his
work
in
a
dull
,
unwilling
,
lethargic
way
,
which
promised
badly
for
his
tips
from
those
he
was
supposed
to
serve
.
By
degrees
all
the
passengers
got
dressed
,
all
but
two
,
—
the
lady
in
9
and
10
,
who
had
made
no
sign
as
yet
;
and
the
man
who
occupied
alone
a
double
berth
next
her
,
numbered
7
and
8.
As
it
was
the
porter
's
duty
to
call
every
one
,
and
as
he
was
anxious
,
like
the
rest
of
his
class
,
to
get
rid
of
his
travellers
as
soon
as
possible
after
arrival
,
he
rapped
at
each
of
the
two
closed
doors
behind
which
people
presumably
still
slept
.
The
lady
cried
"
All
right
,
"
but
there
was
no
answer
from
No.
7
and
8.
Again
and
again
the
porter
knocked
and
called
loudly
.
Still
meeting
with
no
response
,
he
opened
the
door
of
the
compartment
and
went
in
.
It
was
now
broad
daylight
.
No
blind
was
down
;
indeed
,
the
one
narrow
window
was
open
,
wide
;
and
the
whole
of
the
interior
of
the
compartment
was
plainly
visible
,
all
and
everything
in
it
.
The
occupant
lay
on
his
bed
motionless
.
Sound
asleep
?
No
,
not
merely
asleep
—
the
twisted
unnatural
lie
of
the
limbs
,
the
contorted
legs
,
the
one
arm
drooping
listlessly
but
stiffly
over
the
side
of
the
berth
,
told
of
a
deeper
,
more
eternal
sleep
.
The
man
was
dead
.
Dead
—
and
not
from
natural
causes
.
One
glance
at
the
blood-stained
bedclothes
,
one
look
at
the
gaping
wound
in
the
breast
,
at
the
battered
,
mangled
face
,
told
the
terrible
story
.
It
was
murder
!
murder
most
foul
!
The
victim
had
been
stabbed
to
the
heart
.
With
a
wild
,
affrighted
,
cry
the
porter
rushed
out
of
the
compartment
,
and
to
the
eager
questioning
of
all
who
crowded
round
him
,
he
could
only
mutter
in
confused
and
trembling
accents
:
"
There
!
there
!
in
there
!
"
Thus
the
fact
of
the
murder
became
known
to
every
one
by
personal
inspection
,
for
every
one
(
even
the
lady
had
appeared
for
just
a
moment
)
had
looked
in
where
the
body
lay
.
The
compartment
was
filled
for
some
ten
minutes
or
more
by
an
excited
,
gesticulating
,
polyglot
mob
of
half
a
dozen
,
all
talking
at
once
in
French
,
English
,
and
Italian
.
The
first
attempt
to
restore
order
was
made
by
a
tall
man
,
middle-aged
,
but
erect
in
his
bearing
,
with
bright
eyes
and
alert
manner
,
who
took
the
porter
aside
,
and
said
sharply
in
good
French
,
but
with
a
strong
English
accent
:
"
Here
!
it
's
your
business
to
do
something
.
No
one
has
any
right
to
be
in
that
compartment
now
.
There
may
be
reasons
—
traces
—
things
to
remove
;
never
mind
what
.
But
get
them
all
out
.
Be
sharp
about
it
;
and
lock
the
door
.
Remember
you
will
be
held
responsible
to
justice
.
"
The
porter
shuddered
,
so
did
many
of
the
passengers
who
had
overheard
the
Englishman
's
last
words
.
Justice
!
It
is
not
to
be
trifled
with
anywhere
,
least
of
all
in
France
,
where
the
uncomfortable
superstition
prevails
that
every
one
who
can
be
reasonably
suspected
of
a
crime
is
held
to
be
guilty
of
that
crime
until
his
innocence
is
clearly
proved
.
All
those
six
passengers
and
the
porter
were
now
brought
within
the
category
of
the
accused
.
They
were
all
open
to
suspicion
;
they
,
and
they
alone
,
for
the
murdered
man
had
been
seen
alive
at
Laroche
,
and
the
fell
deed
must
have
been
done
since
then
,
while
the
train
was
in
transit
,
that
is
to
say
,
going
at
express
speed
,
when
no
one
could
leave
it
except
at
peril
of
his
life
.
"
Deuced
awkward
for
us
!
"
said
the
tall
English
general
,
Sir
Charles
Collingham
by
name
,
to
his
brother
the
parson
,
when
he
had
reëntered
their
compartment
and
shut
the
door
.
"
I
ca
n't
see
it
.
In
what
way
?
"
asked
the
Reverend
Silas
Collingham
,
a
typical
English
cleric
,
with
a
rubicund
face
and
square-cut
white
whiskers
,
dressed
in
a
suit
of
black
serge
,
and
wearing
the
professional
white
tie
.
"
Why
,
we
shall
be
detained
,
of
course
;
arrested
,
probably
—
certainly
detained
.
Examined
,
cross-examined
,
bully-ragged
—
I
know
something
of
the
French
police
and
their
ways
.
"
"
If
they
stop
us
,
I
shall
write
to
the
Times
"
cried
his
brother
,
by
profession
a
man
of
peace
,
but
with
a
choleric
eye
that
told
of
an
angry
temperament
.
"
By
all
means
,
my
dear
Silas
,
when
you
get
the
chance
.
That
wo
n't
be
just
yet
,
for
I
tell
you
we
're
in
a
tight
place
,
and
may
expect
a
good
deal
of
worry
.
"
With
that
he
took
out
his
cigarette-case
,
and
his
match-box
,
lighted
his
cigarette
,
and
calmly
watched
the
smoke
rising
with
all
the
coolness
of
an
old
campaigner
accustomed
to
encounter
and
face
the
ups
and
downs
of
life
.
"
I
only
hope
to
goodness
they
'll
run
straight
on
to
Paris
,
"
he
added
in
a
fervent
tone
,
not
unmixed
with
apprehension
.
"
No
!
By
jingo
,
we
're
slackening
speed
—
.
"
"
Why
should
n't
we
?
It
's
right
the
conductor
,
or
chief
of
the
train
,
or
whatever
you
call
him
,
should
know
what
has
happened
.
"
"
Why
,
man
,
ca
n't
you
see
?
While
the
train
is
travelling
express
,
every
one
must
stay
on
board
it
;
if
it
slows
,
it
is
possible
to
leave
it
.
"
"
Who
would
want
to
leave
it
?
"
"
Oh
,
I
do
n't
know
,
"
said
the
General
,
rather
testily
.
"
Any
way
,
the
thing
's
done
now
.
"
The
train
had
pulled
up
in
obedience
to
the
signal
of
alarm
given
by
some
one
in
the
sleeping-car
,
but
by
whom
it
was
impossible
to
say
.
Not
by
the
porter
,
for
he
seemed
greatly
surprised
as
the
conductor
came
up
to
him
.
"
How
did
you
know
?
"
he
asked
.
"
Know
!
Know
what
?
You
stopped
me
.
"
"
I
did
n't
.
"
"
Who
rang
the
bell
,
then
?
"
"
I
did
not
.
But
I
'm
glad
you
've
come
.
There
has
been
a
crime
—
murder
.
"
"
Good
Heavens
!
"
cried
the
conductor
,
jumping
up
on
to
the
car
,
and
entering
into
the
situation
at
once
.
His
business
was
only
to
verify
the
fact
,
and
take
all
necessary
precautions
.
He
was
a
burly
,
brusque
,
peremptory
person
,
the
despotic
,
self-important
French
official
,
who
knew
what
to
do
—
as
he
thought
—
and
did
it
without
hesitation
or
apology
.
"
No
one
must
leave
the
car
,
"
he
said
in
a
tone
not
to
be
misunderstood
.
"
Neither
now
,
nor
on
arrival
at
the
station
.
"
There
was
a
shout
of
protest
and
dismay
,
which
he
quickly
cut
short
.
"
You
will
have
to
arrange
it
with
the
authorities
in
Paris
;
they
can
alone
decide
.
My
duty
is
plain
:
to
detain
you
,
place
you
under
surveillance
till
then
.
Afterwards
,
we
will
see
.
Enough
,
gentlemen
and
madame
"
—
He
bowed
with
the
instinctive
gallantry
of
his
nation
to
the
female
figure
which
now
appeared
at
the
door
of
her
compartment
.
She
stood
for
a
moment
listening
,
seemingly
greatly
agitated
,
and
then
,
without
a
word
,
disappeared
,
retreating
hastily
into
her
own
private
room
,
where
she
shut
herself
in
.
Almost
immediately
,
at
a
signal
from
the
conductor
,
the
train
resumed
its
journey
.
The
distance
remaining
to
be
traversed
was
short
;
half
an
hour
more
,
and
the
Lyons
station
,
at
Paris
,
was
reached
,
where
the
bulk
of
the
passengers
—
all
,
indeed
,
but
the
occupants
of
the
sleeper
—
descended
and
passed
through
the
barriers
.
The
latter
were
again
desired
to
keep
their
places
,
while
a
posse
of
officials
came
and
mounted
guard
.
Presently
they
were
told
to
leave
the
car
one
by
one
,
but
to
take
nothing
with
them
.
All
their
hand-bags
,
rugs
,
and
belongings
were
to
remain
in
the
berths
,
just
as
they
lay
.
One
by
one
they
were
marched
under
escort
to
a
large
and
bare
waiting-room
,
which
had
,
no
doubt
,
been
prepared
for
their
reception
.
Here
they
took
their
seats
on
chairs
placed
at
wide
intervals
apart
,
and
were
peremptorily
forbidden
to
hold
any
communication
with
each
other
,
by
word
or
gesture
.
This
order
was
enforced
by
a
fierce-looking
guard
in
blue
and
red
uniform
,
who
stood
facing
them
with
his
arms
folded
,
gnawing
his
moustache
and
frowning
severely
.
Last
of
all
,
the
porter
was
brought
in
and
treated
like
the
passengers
,
but
more
distinctly
as
a
prisoner
.
He
had
a
guard
all
to
himself
;
and
it
seemed
as
though
he
was
the
object
of
peculiar
suspicion
.
It
had
no
great
effect
upon
him
,
for
,
while
the
rest
of
the
party
were
very
plainly
sad
,
and
a
prey
to
lively
apprehension
,
the
porter
sat
dull
and
unmoved
,
with
the
stolid
,
sluggish
,
unconcerned
aspect
of
a
man
just
roused
from
sound
sleep
and
relapsing
into
slumber
,
who
takes
little
notice
of
what
is
passing
around
.
Meanwhile
,
the
sleeping-car
,
with
its
contents
,
especially
the
corpse
of
the
victim
,
was
shunted
into
a
siding
,
and
sentries
were
placed
on
it
at
both
ends
.
Seals
had
been
affixed
upon
the
entrance
doors
,
so
that
the
interior
might
be
kept
inviolate
until
it
could
be
visited
and
examined
by
the
Chef
de
la
Surêté
,
or
Chief
of
the
Detective
Service
.
Every
one
and
everything
awaited
the
arrival
of
this
all-important
functionary
.
CHAPTER
II
M
.
Floçon
,
the
Chief
,
was
an
early
man
,
and
he
paid
a
first
visit
to
his
office
about
7
A.M.
He
lived
just
round
the
corner
in
the
Rue
des
Arcs
,
and
had
not
far
to
go
to
the
Prefecture
.
But
even
now
,
soon
after
daylight
,
he
was
correctly
dressed
,
as
became
a
responsible
ministerial
officer
.
He
wore
a
tight
frock
coat
and
an
immaculate
white
tie
;
under
his
arm
he
carried
the
regulation
portfolio
,
or
lawyer
's
bag
,
stuffed
full
of
reports
,
dispositions
,
and
documents
dealing
with
cases
in
hand
.
He
was
altogether
a
very
precise
and
natty
little
personage
,
quiet
and
unpretending
in
demeanour
,
with
a
mild
,
thoughtful
face
in
which
two
small
ferrety
eyes
blinked
and
twinkled
behind
gold-rimmed
glasses
.
But
when
things
went
wrong
,
when
he
had
to
deal
with
fools
,
or
when
scent
was
keen
,
or
the
enemy
near
,
he
would
become
as
fierce
and
eager
as
any
terrier
.
He
had
just
taken
his
place
at
his
table
and
begun
to
arrange
his
papers
,
which
,
being
a
man
of
method
,
he
kept
carefully
sorted
by
lots
each
in
an
old
copy
of
the
Figaro
,
when
he
was
called
to
the
telephone
.
His
services
were
greatly
needed
,
as
we
know
,
at
the
Lyons
station
and
the
summons
was
to
the
following
effect
:
"
Crime
on
train
No.
45.
A
man
murdered
in
the
sleeper
.
All
the
passengers
held
.
Please
come
at
once
.
Most
important
.
"
A
fiacre
was
called
instantly
,
and
M
.
Floçon
,
accompanied
by
Galipaud
and
Block
,
the
two
first
inspectors
for
duty
,
was
driven
with
all
possible
speed
across
Paris
.
He
was
met
outside
the
station
,
just
under
the
wide
verandah
,
by
the
officials
,
who
gave
him
a
brief
outline
of
the
facts
,
so
far
as
they
were
known
,
and
as
they
have
already
been
put
before
the
reader
.
"
The
passengers
have
been
detained
?
"
asked
M
.
Floçon
at
once
.
"
Those
in
the
sleeping-car
only
—
"
"
Tut
,
tut
!
they
should
have
been
all
kept
—
at
least
until
you
had
taken
their
names
and
addresses
.
Who
knows
what
they
might
not
have
been
able
to
tell
?
"
It
was
suggested
that
as
the
crime
was
committed
presumably
while
the
train
was
in
motion
,
only
those
in
the
one
car
could
be
implicated
.
"
We
should
never
jump
to
conclusions
,
"
said
the
Chief
snappishly
.
"
Well
,
show
me
the
train
card
—
the
list
of
the
travellers
in
the
sleeper
.
"
"
It
cannot
be
found
,
sir
.
"
"
Impossible
!
Why
,
it
is
the
porter
's
business
to
deliver
it
at
the
end
of
the
journey
to
his
superiors
,
and
under
the
law
—
to
us
.
Where
is
the
porter
?
In
custody
?
"
"
Surely
,
sir
,
but
there
is
something
wrong
with
him
.
"
"
So
I
should
think
!
Nothing
of
this
kind
could
well
occur
without
his
knowledge
.
If
he
was
doing
his
duty
—
unless
,
of
course
,
he
—
but
let
us
avoid
hasty
conjectures
.
"
"
He
has
also
lost
the
passengers
'
tickets
,
which
you
know
he
retains
till
the
end
of
the
journey
.
After
the
catastrophe
,
however
,
he
was
unable
to
lay
his
hand
upon
his
pocket-book
.
It
contained
all
his
papers
.
"
"
Worse
and
worse
.
There
is
something
behind
all
this
.
Take
me
to
him
.
Stay
,
can
I
have
a
private
room
close
to
the
other
—
where
the
prisoners
,
those
held
on
suspicion
,
are
?
It
will
be
necessary
to
hold
investigations
,
take
their
depositions
.
M
.
le
Juge
will
be
here
directly
.
"
M
.
Floçon
was
soon
installed
in
a
room
actually
communicating
with
the
waiting-room
,
and
as
a
preliminary
of
the
first
importance
,
taking
precedence
even
of
the
examination
of
the
sleeping-car
,
he
ordered
the
porter
to
be
brought
in
to
answer
certain
questions
.
The
man
,
Ludwig
Groote
,
as
he
presently
gave
his
name
,
thirty-two
years
of
age
,
born
at
Amsterdam
,
looked
such
a
sluggish
,
slouching
,
blear-eyed
creature
that
M
.
Floçon
began
by
a
sharp
rebuke
.
"
Now
.
Sharp
!
Are
you
always
like
this
?
"
cried
the
Chief
.
The
porter
still
stared
straight
before
him
with
lack-lustre
eyes
,
and
made
no
immediate
reply
.
"
Are
you
drunk
?
are
you
—
Can
it
be
possible
?
"
he
said
,
and
in
vague
reply
to
a
sudden
strong
suspicion
,
he
went
on
:
"
What
were
you
doing
between
Laroche
and
Paris
?
Sleeping
?
"
The
man
roused
himself
a
little
.
"
I
think
I
slept
.
I
must
have
slept
.
I
was
very
drowsy
.
I
had
been
up
two
nights
;
but
so
it
is
always
,
and
I
am
not
like
this
generally
.
I
do
not
understand
.
"
"
Hah
!
"
The
Chief
thought
he
understood
.
"
Did
you
feel
this
drowsiness
before
leaving
Laroche
?
"
"
No
,
monsieur
,
I
did
not
.
Certainly
not
.
I
was
fresh
till
then
—
quite
fresh
.
"
"
Hum
;
exactly
;
I
see
;
"
and
the
little
Chief
jumped
to
his
feet
and
ran
round
to
where
the
porter
stood
sheepishly
,
and
sniffed
and
smelt
at
him
.
"
Yes
,
yes
.
"
Sniff
,
sniff
,
sniff
,
the
little
man
danced
round
and
round
him
,
then
took
hold
of
the
porter
's
head
with
one
hand
,
and
with
the
other
turned
down
his
lower
eyelid
so
as
to
expose
the
eyeball
,
sniffed
a
little
more
,
and
then
resumed
his
seat
.
"
Exactly
.
And
now
,
where
is
your
train
card
?
"
"
Pardon
,
monsieur
,
I
cannot
find
it
.
"
"
That
is
absurd
.
Where
do
you
keep
it
?
Look
again
—
search
—
I
must
have
it
.
"
The
porter
shook
his
head
hopelessly
.
"
It
is
gone
,
monsieur
,
and
my
pocket-book
.
"
"
But
your
papers
,
the
tickets
—
"
"
Everything
was
in
it
,
monsieur
.
I
must
have
dropped
it
.
"
Strange
,
very
strange
.
However
—
the
fact
was
to
be
recorded
,
for
the
moment
.
He
could
of
course
return
to
it
.
"
You
can
give
me
the
names
of
the
passengers
?
"
"
No
,
monsieur
.
Not
exactly
.
I
cannot
remember
,
not
enough
to
distinguish
between
them
.
"
"
Fichtre
!
But
this
is
most
devilishly
irritating
.
To
think
that
I
have
to
do
with
a
man
so
stupid
—
such
an
idiot
,
such
an
ass
!
"
"
At
least
you
know
how
the
berths
were
occupied
,
how
many
in
each
,
and
which
persons
?
Yes
?
You
can
tell
me
that
?
Well
,
go
on
.
By
and
by
we
will
have
the
passengers
in
,
and
you
can
fix
their
places
,
after
I
have
ascertained
their
names
.
Now
,
please
!
For
how
many
was
the
car
?
"
"
Sixteen
.
There
were
two
compartments
of
four
berths
each
,
and
four
of
two
berths
each
.
"
"
Stay
,
let
us
make
a
plan
.
I
will
draw
it
.
Here
,
now
,
is
that
right
?
"
and
the
Chief
held
up
the
rough
diagram
,
here
shown
—
[
Illustration
:
Diagram
of
railroad
car
.
]
"
Here
we
have
the
six
compartments
.
Now
take
a
,
with
berths
1
,
2
,
3
,
and
4.
Were
they
all
occupied
?
"
"
No
;
only
two
,
by
Englishmen
.
I
know
that
they
talked
English
,
which
I
understand
a
little
.
One
was
a
soldier
;
the
other
,
I
think
,
a
clergyman
,
or
priest
.
"
"
Good
!
we
can
verify
that
directly
.
Now
,
b
,
with
berths
5
and
6.
Who
was
there
?
"
"
One
gentleman
.
I
do
n't
remember
his
name
.
But
I
shall
know
him
by
appearance
.
"
"
Go
on
.
In
c
,
two
berths
,
7
and
8
?
"
"
Also
one
gentleman
.
It
was
he
who
—
I
mean
,
that
is
where
the
crime
occurred
.
"
"
Ah
,
indeed
,
in
7
and
8
?
Very
well
.
And
the
next
,
9
and
10
?
"
"
A
lady
.
Our
only
lady
.
She
came
from
Rome
.
"
"
One
moment
.
Where
did
the
rest
come
from
?
Did
any
embark
on
the
road
?
"
"
No
,
monsieur
;
all
the
passengers
travelled
through
from
Rome
.
"
"
The
dead
man
included
?
Was
he
Roman
?
"
"
That
I
cannot
say
,
but
he
came
on
board
at
Rome
.
"
"
Very
well
.
This
lady
—
she
was
alone
?
"
"
In
the
compartment
,
yes
.
But
not
altogether
.
"
"
I
do
not
understand
!
"
"
She
had
her
servant
with
her
.
"
"
In
the
car
?
"
"
No
,
not
in
the
car
.
As
a
passenger
by
second
class
.
But
she
came
to
her
mistress
sometimes
,
in
the
car
.
"
"
For
her
service
,
I
presume
?
"
"
Well
,
yes
,
monsieur
,
when
I
would
permit
it
.
But
she
came
a
little
too
often
,
and
I
was
compelled
to
protest
,
to
speak
to
Madame
la
Comtesse
—
"
"
She
was
a
countess
,
then
?
"
"
The
maid
addressed
her
by
that
title
.
That
is
all
I
know
.
I
heard
her
.
"
"
When
did
you
see
the
lady
's
maid
last
?
"
"
Last
night
.
I
think
at
Amberieux
.
about
8
p.m.
"
"
Not
this
morning
?
"
"
No
,
sir
,
I
am
quite
sure
of
that
.
"
"
Not
at
Laroche
?
She
did
not
come
on
board
to
stay
,
for
the
last
stage
,
when
her
mistress
would
be
getting
up
,
dressing
,
and
likely
to
require
her
?
"
"
No
;
I
should
not
have
permitted
it
.
"
"
And
where
is
the
maid
now
,
d'you
suppose
?
"
The
porter
looked
at
him
with
an
air
of
complete
imbecility
.
"
She
is
surely
somewhere
near
,
in
or
about
the
station
.
She
would
hardly
desert
her
mistress
now
,
"
he
said
,
stupidly
,
at
last
.
"
At
any
rate
we
can
soon
settle
that
.
"
The
Chief
turned
to
one
of
his
assistants
,
both
of
whom
had
been
standing
behind
him
all
the
time
,
and
said
:
"
Step
out
,
Galipaud
,
and
see
.
No
,
wait
.
I
am
nearly
as
stupid
as
this
simpleton
.
Describe
this
maid
.
"
"
Tall
and
slight
,
dark-eyed
,
very
black
hair
.
Dressed
all
in
black
,
plain
black
bonnet
.
I
cannot
remember
more
.
"
"
Find
her
,
Galipaud
—
keep
your
eye
on
her
.
We
may
want
her
—
why
,
I
cannot
say
,
as
she
seems
disconnected
with
the
event
,
but
still
she
ought
to
be
at
hand
.
"
Then
,
turning
to
the
porter
,
he
went
on
.
"
Finish
,
please
.
You
said
9
and
10
was
the
lady
's
.
Well
,
11
and
12
?
"
"
It
was
vacant
all
through
the
run
.
"
"
And
the
last
compartment
,
for
four
?
"
"
There
were
two
berths
,
occupied
both
by
Frenchmen
,
at
least
so
I
judged
them
.
They
talked
French
to
each
other
and
to
me
.
"
"
Then
now
we
have
them
all
.
Stand
aside
,
please
,
and
I
will
make
the
passengers
come
in
.
We
will
then
determine
their
places
and
affix
their
names
from
their
own
admissions
.
Call
them
in
,
Block
,
one
by
one
.
"
CHAPTER
III
The
questions
put
by
M
.
Floçon
were
much
the
same
in
every
case
,
and
were
limited
in
this
early
stage
of
the
inquiry
to
the
one
point
of
identity
.
The
first
who
entered
was
a
Frenchman
.
He
was
a
jovial
,
fat-faced
,
portly
man
,
who
answered
to
the
name
of
Anatole
Lafolay
,
and
who
described
himself
as
a
traveller
in
precious
stones
.
The
berth
he
had
occupied
was
No.
13
in
compartment
f
.
His
companion
in
the
berth
was
a
younger
man
,
smaller
,
slighter
,
but
of
much
the
same
stamp
.
His
name
was
Jules
Devaux
,
and
he
was
a
commission
agent
.
His
berth
had
been
No.
15
in
the
same
compartment
,
f
.
Both
these
Frenchmen
gave
their
addresses
with
the
names
of
many
people
to
whom
they
were
well
known
,
and
established
at
once
a
reputation
for
respectability
which
was
greatly
in
their
favour
.
The
third
to
appear
was
the
tall
,
gray-headed
Englishman
,
who
had
taken
a
certain
lead
at
the
first
discovery
of
the
crime
.
He
called
himself
General
Sir
Charles
Collingham
,
an
officer
of
her
Majesty
's
army
;
and
the
clergyman
who
shared
the
compartment
was
his
brother
,
the
Reverend
Silas
Collingham
,
rector
of
Theakstone-Lammas
,
in
the
county
of
Norfolk
.
Their
berths
were
numbered
1
and
4
in
a
.
Before
the
English
General
was
dismissed
,
he
asked
whether
he
was
likely
to
be
detained
.
"
For
the
present
,
yes
,
"
replied
M
.
Floçon
,
briefly
.
He
did
not
care
to
be
asked
questions
.
That
,
under
the
circumstances
,
was
his
business
.
"
Because
I
should
like
to
communicate
with
the
British
Embassy
.
"
"
You
are
known
there
?
"
asked
the
detective
,
not
choosing
to
believe
the
story
at
first
.
It
might
be
a
ruse
of
some
sort
.
"
I
know
Lord
Dufferin
personally
;
I
was
with
him
in
India
.
Also
Colonel
Papillon
,
the
military
attaché
;
we
were
in
the
same
regiment
.
If
I
sent
to
the
Embassy
,
the
latter
would
,
no
doubt
,
come
himself
.
"
"
How
do
you
propose
to
send
?
"
"
That
is
for
you
to
decide
.
All
I
wish
is
that
it
should
be
known
that
my
brother
and
I
are
detained
under
suspicion
,
and
incriminated
.
"
"
Hardly
that
,
Monsieur
le
General
.
But
it
shall
be
as
you
wish
.
We
will
telephone
from
here
to
the
post
nearest
the
Embassy
to
inform
his
Excellency
—
"
"
Certainly
,
Lord
Dufferin
,
and
my
friend
,
Colonel
Papillon
.
"
"
Of
what
has
occurred
.
And
now
,
if
you
will
permit
me
to
proceed
?
"
So
the
single
occupant
of
the
compartment
b
,
that
adjoining
the
Englishmen
,
was
called
in
.
He
was
an
Italian
,
by
name
Natale
Ripaldi
;
a
dark-skinned
man
,
with
very
black
hair
and
a
bristling
black
moustache
.
He
wore
a
long
dark
cloak
of
the
Inverness
order
,
and
,
with
the
slouch
hat
he
carried
in
his
hand
,
and
his
downcast
,
secretive
look
,
he
had
the
rather
conventional
aspect
of
a
conspirator
.
"
If
monsieur
permits
,
"
he
volunteered
to
say
after
the
formal
questioning
was
over
,
"
I
can
throw
some
light
on
this
catastrophe
.
"
"
And
how
so
,
pray
?
Did
you
assist
?
Were
you
present
?
If
so
,
why
wait
to
speak
till
now
?
"
said
the
detective
,
receiving
the
advance
rather
coldly
.
It
behooved
him
to
be
very
much
on
his
guard
.
"
I
have
had
no
opportunity
till
now
of
addressing
any
one
in
authority
.
You
are
in
authority
,
I
presume
?
"
"
I
am
the
Chief
of
the
Detective
Service
.
"
"
Then
,
monsieur
,
remember
,
please
,
that
I
can
give
some
useful
information
when
called
upon
.
Now
,
indeed
,
if
you
will
receive
it
.
"
M
.
Floçon
was
so
anxious
to
approach
the
inquiry
without
prejudice
that
he
put
up
his
hand
.
"
We
will
wait
,
if
you
please
.
When
M
.
le
Juge
arrives
,
then
,
perhaps
;
at
any
rate
,
at
a
later
stage
.
That
will
do
now
,
thank
you
.
"
The
Italian
's
lip
curled
with
a
slight
indication
of
contempt
at
the
French
detective
's
methods
,
but
he
bowed
without
speaking
,
and
went
out
.
Last
of
all
the
lady
appeared
,
in
a
long
sealskin
travelling
cloak
,
and
closely
veiled
.
She
answered
M
.
Floçon
's
questions
in
a
low
,
tremulous
voice
,
as
though
greatly
perturbed
.
She
was
the
Contessa
di
Castagneto
,
she
said
,
an
Englishwoman
by
birth
;
but
her
husband
had
been
an
Italian
,
as
the
name
implied
,
and
they
resided
in
Rome
.
He
was
dead
—
she
had
been
a
widow
for
two
or
three
years
,
and
was
on
her
way
now
to
London
.
"
That
will
do
,
madame
,
thank
you
,
"
said
the
detective
,
politely
,
"
for
the
present
at
least
.
"
"
Why
,
are
we
likely
to
be
detained
?
I
trust
not
.
"
Her
voice
became
appealing
,
almost
piteous
.
Her
hands
,
restlessly
moving
,
showed
how
much
she
was
distressed
.
"
Indeed
,
Madame
la
Comtesse
,
it
must
be
so
.
I
regret
it
infinitely
;
but
until
we
have
gone
further
into
this
,
have
elicited
some
facts
,
arrived
at
some
conclusions
—
But
there
,
madame
,
I
need
not
,
must
not
say
more
.
"
"
Oh
,
monsieur
,
I
was
so
anxious
to
continue
my
journey
.
Friends
are
awaiting
me
in
London
.
I
do
hope
—
I
most
earnestly
beg
and
entreat
you
to
spare
me
.
I
am
not
very
strong
;
my
health
is
indifferent
.
Do
,
sir
,
be
so
good
as
to
release
me
from
—
"
As
she
spoke
,
she
raised
her
veil
,
and
showed
what
no
woman
wishes
to
hide
,
least
of
all
when
seeking
the
good-will
of
one
of
the
opposite
sex
.
She
had
a
handsome
face
—
strikingly
so
.
Not
even
the
long
journey
,
the
fatigue
,
the
worries
and
anxieties
which
had
supervened
,
could
rob
her
of
her
marvellous
beauty
.
She
was
a
brilliant
brunette
,
dark-skinned
;
but
her
complexion
was
of
a
clear
,
pale
olive
,
and
as
soft
,
as
lustrous
as
pure
ivory
.
Her
great
eyes
,
of
a
deep
velvety
brown
,
were
saddened
by
near
tears
.
She
had
rich
red
lips
,
the
only
colour
in
her
face
,
and
these
,
habitually
slightly
apart
,
showed
pearly-white
glistening
teeth
.
It
was
difficult
to
look
at
this
charming
woman
without
being
affected
by
her
beauty
.
M
.
Floçon
was
a
Frenchman
,
gallant
and
impressionable
;
yet
he
steeled
his
heart
.
A
detective
must
beware
of
sentiment
,
and
he
seemed
to
see
something
insidious
in
this
appeal
,
which
he
resented
.
"
Madame
,
it
is
useless
,
"
he
answered
gruffly
.
"
I
do
not
make
the
law
;
I
have
only
to
support
it
.
Every
good
citizen
is
bound
to
that
.
"
"
I
trust
I
am
a
good
citizen
,
"
said
the
Countess
,
with
a
wan
smile
,
but
very
wearily
.
"
Still
,
I
should
wish
to
be
let
off
now
.
I
have
suffered
greatly
,
terribly
,
by
this
horrible
catastrophe
.
My
nerves
are
quite
shattered
.
It
is
too
cruel
.
However
,
I
can
say
no
more
,
except
to
ask
that
you
will
let
my
maid
come
to
me
.
"
M
.
Floçon
,
still
obdurate
,
would
not
even
consent
to
that
.
"
I
fear
,
madame
,
that
for
the
present
at
least
you
cannot
be
allowed
to
communicate
with
any
one
,
not
even
with
your
maid
.
"
"
But
she
is
not
implicated
;
she
was
not
in
the
car
.
I
have
not
seen
her
since
—
"
"
Since
?
"
repeated
M
.
Floçon
,
after
a
pause
.
"
Since
last
night
,
at
Amberieux
,
about
eight
o'clock
.
She
helped
me
to
undress
,
and
saw
me
to
bed
.
I
sent
her
away
then
,
and
said
I
should
not
need
her
till
we
reached
Paris
.
But
I
want
her
now
,
indeed
I
do
.
"
"
She
did
not
come
to
you
at
Laroche
?
"
"
No.
Have
I
not
said
so
?
The
porter
,
"
—
here
she
pointed
to
the
man
,
who
stood
staring
at
her
from
the
other
side
of
the
table
,
—
"
he
made
difficulties
about
her
being
in
the
car
,
saying
that
she
came
too
often
,
stayed
too
long
,
that
I
must
pay
for
her
berth
,
and
so
on
.
I
did
not
see
why
I
should
do
that
;
so
she
stayed
away
.
"
"
Except
from
time
to
time
?
"
"
Precisely
.
"
"
And
the
last
time
was
at
Amberieux
?
"
"
As
I
have
told
you
,
and
he
will
tell
you
the
same
.
"
"
Thank
you
,
madame
,
that
will
do
.
"
The
Chief
rose
from
his
chair
,
plainly
intimating
that
the
interview
was
at
an
end
.
CHAPTER
IV
He
had
other
work
to
do
,
and
was
eager
to
get
at
it
.
So
he
left
Block
to
show
the
Countess
back
to
the
waiting-room
,
and
,
motioning
to
the
porter
that
he
might
also
go
,
the
Chief
hastened
to
the
sleeping-car
,
the
examination
of
which
,
too
long
delayed
,
claimed
his
urgent
attention
.
It
is
the
first
duty
of
a
good
detective
to
visit
the
actual
theatre
of
a
crime
and
overhaul
it
inch
by
inch
,
—
seeking
,
searching
,
investigating
,
looking
for
any
,
even
the
most
insignificant
,
traces
of
the
murderer
's
hands
.
The
sleeping-car
,
as
I
have
said
,
had
been
side-tracked
,
its
doors
were
sealed
,
and
it
was
under
strict
watch
and
ward
.
But
everything
,
of
course
,
gave
way
before
the
detective
,
and
,
breaking
through
the
seals
,
he
walked
in
,
making
straight
for
the
little
room
or
compartment
where
the
body
of
the
victim
still
lay
untended
and
absolutely
untouched
.
It
was
a
ghastly
sight
,
although
not
new
in
M
.
Floçon
's
experience
.
There
lay
the
corpse
in
the
narrow
berth
,
just
as
it
had
been
stricken
.
It
was
partially
undressed
,
wearing
only
shirt
and
drawers
.
The
former
lay
open
at
the
chest
,
and
showed
the
gaping
wound
that
had
,
no
doubt
,
caused
death
,
probably
instantaneous
death
.
But
other
blows
had
been
struck
;
there
must
have
been
a
struggle
,
fierce
and
embittered
,
as
for
dear
life
.
The
savage
truculence
of
the
murderer
had
triumphed
,
but
not
until
he
had
battered
in
the
face
,
destroying
features
and
rendering
recognition
almost
impossible
.
A
knife
had
given
the
mortal
wound
;
that
was
at
once
apparent
from
the
shape
of
the
wound
.
It
was
the
knife
,
too
,
which
had
gashed
and
stabbed
the
face
,
almost
wantonly
;
for
some
of
these
wounds
had
not
bled
,
and
the
plain
inference
was
that
they
had
been
inflicted
after
life
had
sped
.
M
.
Floçon
examined
the
body
closely
,
but
without
disturbing
it
.
The
police
medical
officer
would
wish
to
see
it
as
it
was
found
.
The
exact
position
,
as
well
as
the
nature
of
the
wounds
,
might
afford
evidence
as
to
the
manner
of
death
.
But
the
Chief
looked
long
,
and
with
absorbed
,
concentrated
interest
,
at
the
murdered
man
,
noting
all
he
actually
saw
,
and
conjecturing
a
good
deal
more
.
The
features
of
the
mutilated
face
were
all
but
unrecognizable
,
but
the
hair
,
which
was
abundant
,
was
long
,
black
,
and
inclined
to
curl
;
the
black
moustache
was
thick
and
drooping
.
The
shirt
was
of
fine
linen
,
the
drawers
silk
.
On
one
finger
were
two
good
rings
,
the
hands
were
clean
,
the
nails
well
kept
,
and
there
was
every
evidence
that
the
man
did
not
live
by
manual
labour
.
He
was
of
the
easy
,
cultured
class
,
as
distinct
from
the
workman
or
operative
.
This
conclusion
was
borne
out
by
his
light
baggage
,
which
still
lay
about
the
berth
,
—
hat-box
,
rugs
,
umbrella
,
brown
morocco
hand-bag
.
All
were
the
property
of
some
one
well
to
do
,
or
at
least
possessed
of
decent
belongings
.
One
or
two
pieces
bore
a
monogram
,
"
F.Q.
,
"
the
same
as
on
the
shirt
and
under-linen
;
but
on
the
bag
was
a
luggage
label
,
with
the
name
,
"
Francis
Quadling
,
passenger
to
Paris
,
"
in
full
.
Its
owner
had
apparently
no
reason
to
conceal
his
name
.
More
strangely
,
those
who
had
done
him
to
death
had
been
at
no
pains
to
remove
all
traces
of
his
identity
.
M
.
Floçon
opened
the
hand-bag
,
seeking
for
further
evidence
;
but
found
nothing
of
importance
,
—
only
loose
collars
,
cuffs
,
a
sponge
and
slippers
,
two
Italian
newspapers
of
an
earlier
date
.
No
money
,
valuables
,
or
papers
.
All
these
had
been
removed
probably
,
and
presumably
,
by
the
perpetrator
of
the
crime
.
Having
settled
the
first
preliminary
but
essential
points
,
he
next
surveyed
the
whole
compartment
critically
.
Now
,
for
the
first
time
,
he
was
struck
with
the
fact
that
the
window
was
open
to
its
full
height
.
Since
when
was
this
?
It
was
a
question
to
be
put
presently
to
the
porter
and
any
others
who
had
entered
the
car
,
but
the
discovery
drew
him
to
examine
the
window
more
closely
,
and
with
good
results
.
At
the
ledge
,
caught
on
a
projecting
point
on
the
far
side
,
partly
in
,
partly
out
of
the
car
,
was
a
morsel
of
white
lace
,
a
scrap
of
feminine
apparel
;
although
what
part
,
or
how
it
had
come
there
,
was
not
at
once
obvious
to
M
.
Floçon
.
A
long
and
minute
inspection
of
this
bit
of
lace
,
which
he
was
careful
not
to
detach
as
yet
from
the
place
in
which
he
found
it
,
showed
that
it
was
ragged
,
and
frayed
,
and
fast
caught
where
it
hung
.
It
could
not
have
been
blown
there
by
any
chance
air
;
it
must
have
been
torn
from
the
article
to
which
it
belonged
,
whatever
that
might
be
,
—
head-dress
,
nightcap
,
night-dress
,
or
handkerchief
.
The
lace
was
of
a
kind
to
serve
any
of
these
purposes
.
Inspecting
further
,
M
.
Floçon
made
a
second
discovery
.
On
the
small
table
under
the
window
was
a
short
length
of
black
jet
beading
,
part
of
the
trimming
or
ornamentation
of
a
lady
's
dress
.
These
two
objects
of
feminine
origin
—
one
partly
outside
the
car
,
the
other
near
it
,
but
quite
inside
—
gave
rise
to
many
conjectures
.
It
led
,
however
,
to
the
inevitable
conclusion
that
a
woman
had
been
at
some
time
or
other
in
the
berth
.
M
.
Floçon
could
not
but
connect
these
two
finds
with
the
fact
of
the
open
window
.
The
latter
might
,
of
course
,
have
been
the
work
of
the
murdered
man
himself
at
an
earlier
hour
.
Yet
it
is
unusual
,
as
the
detective
imagined
,
for
a
passenger
,
and
especially
an
Italian
,
to
lie
under
an
open
window
in
a
sleeping-berth
when
travelling
by
express
train
before
daylight
in
March
.
Who
opened
that
window
,
then
,
and
why
?
Perhaps
some
further
facts
might
be
found
on
the
outside
of
the
car
.
With
this
idea
,
M
.
Floçon
left
it
,
and
passed
on
to
the
line
or
permanent
way
.
Here
he
found
himself
a
good
deal
below
the
level
of
the
car
.
These
sleepers
have
no
foot-boards
like
ordinary
carriages
;
access
to
them
is
gained
from
a
platform
by
the
steps
at
each
end
.
The
Chief
was
short
of
stature
,
and
he
could
only
approach
the
window
outside
by
calling
one
of
the
guards
and
ordering
him
to
make
the
small
ladder
(
faire
la
petite
echelle
)
.
This
meant
stooping
and
giving
a
back
,
on
which
little
M
.
Floçon
climbed
nimbly
,
and
so
was
raised
to
the
necessary
height
.
A
close
scrutiny
revealed
nothing
unusual
.
The
exterior
of
the
car
was
encrusted
with
the
mud
and
dust
gathered
in
the
journey
,
none
of
which
appeared
to
have
been
disturbed
.
M
.
Floçon
reëntered
the
carriage
neither
disappointed
nor
pleased
;
his
mind
was
in
an
open
state
,
ready
to
receive
any
impressions
,
and
as
yet
only
one
that
was
at
all
clear
and
distinct
was
borne
in
on
him
.
This
was
the
presence
of
the
lace
and
the
jet
beads
in
the
theatre
of
the
crime
.
The
inference
was
fair
and
simple
.
He
came
logically
and
surely
to
this
:
1.
That
some
woman
had
entered
the
compartment
.
2.
That
whether
or
not
she
had
come
in
before
the
crime
,
she
was
there
after
the
window
had
been
opened
,
which
was
not
done
by
the
murdered
man
.
3.
That
she
had
leaned
out
,
or
partly
passed
out
,
of
the
window
at
some
time
or
other
,
as
the
scrap
of
lace
testified
.
4.
Why
had
she
leaned
out
?
To
seek
some
means
of
exit
or
escape
,
of
course
.
But
escape
from
whom
?
from
what
?
The
murderer
?
Then
she
must
know
him
,
and
unless
an
accomplice
(
if
so
,
why
run
from
him
?
)
,
she
would
give
up
her
knowledge
on
compulsion
,
if
not
voluntarily
,
as
seemed
doubtful
,
seeing
she
(
his
suspicions
were
consolidating
)
had
not
done
so
already
.
But
there
might
be
another
even
stronger
reason
to
attempt
escape
at
such
imminent
risk
as
leaving
an
express
train
at
full
speed
.
To
escape
from
her
own
act
and
the
consequences
it
must
entail
—
escape
from
horror
first
,
from
detection
next
,
and
then
from
arrest
and
punishment
.
All
this
would
imperiously
impel
even
a
weak
woman
to
face
the
worst
peril
,
to
look
out
,
lean
out
,
even
try
the
terrible
but
impossible
feat
of
climbing
out
of
the
car
.
So
M
.
Floçon
,
by
fair
process
of
reasoning
,
reached
a
point
which
incriminated
one
woman
,
the
only
woman
possible
,
and
that
was
the
titled
,
high-bred
lady
who
called
herself
the
Contessa
di
Castagneto
.
This
conclusion
gave
a
definite
direction
to
further
search
.
Consulting
the
rough
plan
which
he
had
constructed
to
take
the
place
of
the
missing
train
card
,
he
entered
the
compartment
which
the
Countess
had
occupied
,
and
which
was
actually
next
door
.
It
was
in
the
tumbled
,
untidy
condition
of
a
sleeping-place
but
just
vacated
.
The
sex
and
quality
of
its
recent
occupant
were
plainly
apparent
in
the
goods
and
chattels
lying
about
,
the
property
and
possessions
of
a
delicate
,
well-bred
woman
of
the
world
,
things
still
left
as
she
had
used
them
last
—
rugs
still
unrolled
,
a
pair
of
easy-slippers
on
the
floor
,
the
sponge
in
its
waterproof
bag
on
the
bed
,
brushes
,
bottles
,
button-hook
,
hand-glass
,
many
things
belonging
to
the
dressing-bag
,
not
yet
returned
to
that
receptacle
.
The
maid
was
no
doubt
to
have
attended
to
all
these
,
but
as
she
had
not
come
,
they
remained
unpacked
and
strewn
about
in
some
disorder
.
M
.
Floçon
pounced
down
upon
the
contents
of
the
berth
,
and
commenced
an
immediate
search
for
a
lace
scarf
,
or
any
wrap
or
cover
with
lace
.
He
found
nothing
,
and
was
hardly
disappointed
.
It
told
more
against
the
Countess
,
who
,
if
innocent
,
would
have
no
reason
to
conceal
or
make
away
with
a
possibly
incriminating
possession
,
the
need
for
which
she
could
not
of
course
understand
.
Next
,
he
handled
the
dressing-bag
,
and
with
deft
fingers
replaced
everything
.
Everything
was
forthcoming
but
one
glass
bottle
,
a
small
one
,
the
absence
of
which
he
noted
,
but
thought
of
little
consequence
,
till
,
by
and
by
,
he
came
upon
it
under
peculiar
circumstances
.
Before
leaving
the
car
,
and
after
walking
through
the
other
compartments
,
M
.
Floçon
made
an
especially
strict
search
of
the
corner
where
the
porter
had
his
own
small
chair
,
his
only
resting-place
,
indeed
,
throughout
the
journey
.
He
had
not
forgotten
the
attendant
's
condition
when
first
examined
,
and
he
had
even
then
been
nearly
satisfied
that
the
man
had
been
hocussed
,
narcotized
,
drugged
.
Any
doubts
were
entirely
removed
by
his
picking
up
near
the
porter
's
seat
a
small
silver-topped
bottle
and
a
handkerchief
,
both
marked
with
coronet
and
monogram
,
the
last
of
which
,
although
the
letters
were
much
interlaced
and
involved
,
were
decipherable
as
S.L.L.C.
It
was
that
of
the
Countess
,
and
corresponded
with
the
marks
on
her
other
belongings
.
He
put
it
to
his
nostril
,
and
recognized
at
once
by
its
smell
that
it
had
contained
tincture
of
laudanum
,
or
some
preparation
of
that
drug
.
CHAPTER
V
M
.
Floçon
was
an
experienced
detective
,
and
he
knew
so
well
that
he
ought
to
be
on
his
guard
against
the
most
plausible
suggestions
,
that
he
did
not
like
to
make
too
much
of
these
discoveries
.
Still
,
he
was
distinctly
satisfied
,
if
not
exactly
exultant
,
and
he
went
back
towards
the
station
with
a
strong
predisposition
against
the
Contessa
di
Castagneto
.
Just
outside
the
waiting-room
,
however
,
his
assistant
,
Galipaud
,
met
him
with
news
which
rather
dashed
his
hopes
,
and
gave
a
new
direction
to
his
thoughts
.
The
lady
's
maid
was
not
to
be
found
.
"
Impossible
!
"
cried
the
Chief
,
and
then
at
once
suspicion
followed
surprise
.
"
I
have
looked
,
monsieur
,
inquired
everywhere
;
the
maid
has
not
been
seen
.
She
certainly
is
not
here
.
"
"
Did
she
go
through
the
barrier
with
the
other
passengers
?
"
"
No
one
knows
;
no
one
remembers
her
;
not
even
the
conductor
.
But
she
has
gone
.
That
is
positive
.
"
"
Yet
it
was
her
duty
to
be
here
;
to
attend
to
her
service
.
Her
mistress
would
certainly
want
her
—
has
asked
for
her
!
Why
should
she
run
away
?
"
This
question
presented
itself
as
one
of
infinite
importance
,
to
be
pondered
over
seriously
before
he
went
further
into
the
inquiry
.
Did
the
Countess
know
of
this
disappearance
?
She
had
asked
imploringly
for
her
maid
.
True
,
but
might
that
not
be
a
blind
?
Women
are
born
actresses
,
and
at
need
can
assume
any
part
,
convey
any
impression
.
Might
not
the
Countess
have
wished
to
be
dissociated
from
the
maid
,
and
therefore
have
affected
complete
ignorance
of
her
flight
?
"
I
will
try
her
further
,
"
said
M
.
Floçon
to
himself
.
But
then
,
supposing
that
the
maid
had
taken
herself
off
of
her
own
accord
?
Why
was
it
?
Why
had
she
done
so
?
Because
—
because
she
was
afraid
of
something
.
If
so
,
of
what
?
No
direct
accusation
could
be
brought
against
her
on
the
face
of
it
.
She
had
not
been
in
the
sleeping-car
at
the
time
of
the
murder
,
while
the
Countess
as
certainly
was
;
and
,
according
to
strong
presumption
,
in
the
very
compartment
where
the
deed
was
done
.
If
the
maid
was
afraid
,
why
was
she
afraid
?
Only
on
one
possible
hypothesis
.
That
she
was
either
in
collusion
with
the
Countess
,
or
possessed
of
some
guilty
knowledge
tending
to
incriminate
the
Countess
and
probably
herself
.
She
had
run
away
to
avoid
any
inconvenient
questioning
tending
to
get
her
mistress
into
trouble
,
which
would
react
probably
on
herself
.
"
We
must
press
the
Countess
on
this
point
closely
;
I
will
put
it
plainly
to
M
.
le
Juge
,
"
said
the
detective
,
as
he
entered
the
private
room
set
apart
for
the
police
authorities
,
where
he
found
M
.
Beaumont
le
Hardi
,
the
instructing
judge
,
and
the
Commissary
of
the
Quartier
(
arrondissement
)
.
A
lengthy
conference
followed
among
the
officials
.
M
.
Floçon
told
all
he
knew
,
all
he
had
discovered
,
gave
his
views
with
all
the
force
and
fluency
of
a
public
prosecutor
,
and
was
congratulated
warmly
on
the
progress
he
had
made
.
"
I
agree
with
you
,
sir
,
"
said
the
instructing
judge
:
"
we
must
have
in
the
Countess
first
,
and
pursue
the
line
indicated
as
regards
the
missing
maid
.
"
"
I
will
fetch
her
,
then
.
Stay
,
what
can
be
going
on
in
there
?
"
cried
M
.
Floçon
,
rising
from
his
seat
and
running
into
the
outer
waiting-room
,
which
,
to
his
surprise
and
indignation
,
he
found
in
great
confusion
.
The
guard
who
was
on
duty
was
struggling
,
in
personal
conflict
almost
,
with
the
English
General
.
There
was
a
great
hubbub
of
voices
,
and
the
Countess
was
lying
back
half-fainting
in
her
chair
.
"
What
's
all
this
?
How
dare
you
,
sir
?
"
This
to
the
General
,
who
now
had
the
man
by
the
throat
with
one
hand
and
with
the
other
was
preventing
him
from
drawing
his
sword
.
"
Desist
—
forbear
!
You
are
opposing
legal
authority
;
desist
,
or
I
will
call
in
assistance
and
will
have
you
secured
and
removed
.
"
The
little
Chief
's
blood
was
up
;
he
spoke
warmly
,
with
all
the
force
and
dignity
of
an
official
who
sees
the
law
outraged
.
"
It
is
entirely
the
fault
of
this
ruffian
of
yours
;
he
has
behaved
most
brutally
,
"
replied
Sir
Charles
,
still
holding
him
tight
.
"
Let
him
go
,
monsieur
;
your
behaviour
is
inexcusable
.
What
!
you
,
a
military
officer
of
the
highest
rank
,
to
assault
a
sentinel
!
For
shame
!
This
is
unworthy
of
you
!
"
"
He
deserves
to
be
scragged
,
the
beast
!
"
went
on
the
General
,
as
with
one
sharp
turn
of
the
wrist
he
threw
the
guard
off
,
and
sent
him
flying
nearly
across
the
room
,
where
,
being
free
at
last
,
the
Frenchman
drew
his
sword
and
brandished
it
threateningly
—
from
a
distance
.
But
M
.
Floçon
interposed
with
uplifted
hand
and
insisted
upon
an
explanation
.
"
It
is
just
this
,
"
replied
Sir
Charles
,
speaking
fast
and
with
much
fierceness
:
"
that
lady
there
—
poor
thing
,
she
is
ill
,
you
can
see
that
for
yourself
,
suffering
,
overwrought
;
she
asked
for
a
glass
of
water
,
and
this
brute
,
triple
brute
,
as
you
say
in
French
,
refused
to
bring
it
.
"
"
I
could
not
leave
the
room
,
"
protested
the
guard
.
"
My
orders
were
precise
.
"
"
So
I
was
going
to
fetch
the
water
,
"
went
on
the
General
angrily
,
eying
the
guard
as
though
he
would
like
to
make
another
grab
at
him
,
"
and
this
fellow
interfered
.
"
"
Very
properly
,
"
added
M
.
Floçon
.
"
Then
why
did
n't
he
go
himself
,
or
call
some
one
?
Upon
my
word
,
monsieur
,
you
are
not
to
be
complimented
upon
your
people
,
nor
your
methods
.
I
used
to
think
that
a
Frenchman
was
gallant
,
courteous
,
especially
to
ladies
.
"
The
Chief
looked
a
little
disconcerted
,
but
remembering
what
he
knew
against
this
particular
lady
,
he
stiffened
and
said
severely
,
"
I
am
responsible
for
my
conduct
to
my
superiors
,
and
not
to
you
.
Besides
,
you
appear
to
forget
your
position
.
You
are
here
,
detained
—
all
of
you
"
—
he
spoke
to
the
whole
room
—
"
under
suspicion
.
A
ghastly
crime
has
been
perpetrated
—
by
some
one
among
you
—
"
"
Do
not
be
too
sure
of
that
,
"
interposed
the
irrepressible
General
.
"
Who
else
could
be
concerned
?
The
train
never
stopped
after
leaving
Laroche
,
"
said
the
detective
,
allowing
himself
to
be
betrayed
into
argument
.
"
Yes
,
it
did
,
"
corrected
Sir
Charles
,
with
a
contemptuous
laugh
;
"
shows
how
much
you
know
.
"
Again
the
Chief
looked
unhappy
.
He
was
on
dangerous
ground
,
face
to
face
with
a
new
fact
affecting
all
his
theories
,
—
if
fact
it
was
,
not
mere
assertion
,
and
that
he
must
speedily
verify
.
But
nothing
was
to
be
gained
—
much
,
indeed
,
might
be
lost
—
by
prolonging
this
discussion
in
the
presence
of
the
whole
party
.
It
was
entirely
opposed
to
the
French
practice
of
investigation
,
which
works
secretly
,
taking
witnesses
separately
,
one
by
one
,
and
strictly
preventing
all
intercommunication
or
collusion
among
them
.
"
What
I
know
or
do
not
know
is
my
affair
,
"
he
said
,
with
an
indifference
he
did
not
feel
.
"
I
shall
call
upon
you
,
M
.
le
Général
,
for
your
statement
in
due
course
,
and
that
of
the
others
.
"
He
bowed
stiffly
to
the
whole
room
.
"
Every
one
must
be
interrogated
.
M
.
le
Juge
is
now
here
,
and
he
proposes
to
begin
,
madame
,
with
you
.
"
The
Countess
gave
a
little
start
,
shivered
,
and
turned
very
pale
.
"
Ca
n't
you
see
she
is
not
equal
to
it
?
"
cried
the
General
,
hotly
.
"
She
has
not
yet
recovered
.
In
the
name
of
—
I
do
not
say
chivalry
,
for
that
would
be
useless
—
but
of
common
humanity
,
spare
madame
,
at
least
for
the
present
.
"
"
That
is
impossible
,
quite
impossible
.
There
are
reasons
why
Madame
la
Comtesse
should
be
examined
first
.
I
trust
,
therefore
,
she
will
make
an
effort
.
"
"
I
will
try
,
if
you
wish
it
.
"
She
rose
from
her
chair
and
walked
a
few
steps
rather
feebly
,
then
stopped
.
"
No
,
no
,
Countess
,
do
not
go
,
"
said
Sir
Charles
,
hastily
,
in
English
,
as
he
moved
across
to
where
she
stood
and
gave
her
his
hand
.
"
This
is
sheer
cruelty
,
sir
,
and
cannot
be
permitted
.
"
"
Stand
aside
!
"
shouted
M
.
Floçon
;
"
I
forbid
you
to
approach
that
lady
,
to
address
her
,
or
communicate
with
her
.
Guard
,
advance
,
do
your
duty
.
"
But
the
guard
,
although
his
sword
was
still
out
of
its
sheath
,
showed
great
reluctance
to
move
.
He
had
no
desire
to
try
conclusions
again
with
this
very
masterful
person
,
who
was
,
moreover
,
a
general
;
as
he
had
seen
service
,
he
had
a
deep
respect
for
generals
,
even
of
foreign
growth
.
Meanwhile
the
General
held
his
ground
and
continued
his
conversation
with
the
Countess
,
speaking
still
in
English
,
thus
exasperating
M
.
Floçon
,
who
did
not
understand
the
language
,
almost
to
madness
.
"
This
is
not
to
be
borne
!
"
he
cried
.
"
Here
,
Galipaud
,
Block
;
"
and
when
his
two
trusty
assistants
came
rushing
in
,
he
pointed
furiously
to
the
General
.
"
Seize
him
,
remove
him
by
force
if
necessary
.
He
shall
go
to
the
violon
—
to
the
nearest
lock-up
.
"
The
noise
attracted
also
the
Judge
and
the
Commissary
,
and
there
were
now
six
officials
in
all
,
including
the
guard
,
all
surrounding
the
General
,
a
sufficiently
imposing
force
to
overawe
even
the
most
recalcitrant
fire-eater
.
But
now
the
General
seemed
to
see
only
the
comic
side
of
the
situation
,
and
he
burst
out
laughing
.
"
What
,
all
of
you
?
How
many
more
?
Why
not
bring
up
cavalry
and
artillery
,
horse
,
foot
,
and
guns
?
"
he
asked
,
derisively
.
"
All
to
prevent
one
old
man
from
offering
his
services
to
one
weak
woman
!
Gentlemen
,
my
regards
!
"
"
Really
,
Charles
,
I
fear
you
are
going
too
far
,
"
said
his
brother
the
clergyman
,
who
,
