The
ROME EXPRESS
ARTHUR GRIFFITHS





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THE ROME EXPRESS


Works of
ARTHUR GRIFFITHS
The Passenger from Calais $1.25
The Rome Express
1.25
.
L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
New England Building, Boston, Mass.






A0 Seatt


M. Flocon interposed with uplifted hand.”
(See page 49)


The ROME
EXPRESS
By Arthur Griffiths
Author of "The Passenger from Calais," etc.
With a frontispiece in colours
By Arthur O. Scott

LABOR
SPE
Boston L. C. Page and
Company other MDCCCCVII


PR 6013
R742 R6
1907
Copyright, 1907
By L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
(INCORPORATED)
All rights reserved
First impression, February, 1907
COLONIAL PRESS
Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.
Boston, U.S.A.


THE ROME EXPRESS
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
1


2
THE ROME EXPRESS
water, towels, making the usual stir of prepar-
ation 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 diffi-
culty, and set about his work in a dull, un-
willing, 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 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.


THE ROME EXPRESS
3
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 list-
lessly 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 bed-
clothes, 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


4
THE ROME EXPRESS
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, gesticu-
lating, 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 some-
thing. No one has any right to be in that
compartment now. There may be reasons
traces things to remove; never mind


THE ROME EXPRESS
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 Eng-
lishman's last words.
Justice! It is not to be trifled with any-
where, least of all in France, where the un-
comfortable 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


6
THE ROME EXPRESS
had reëntered their compartment and shut
the door.
“I can'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. Ex-
amined, 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 won'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


8
THE ROME EXPRESS
" Know !
Know what?
You stopped
me."
“ I didn'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-im-
portant 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,


THE ROME EXPRESS
9
see.
we
will
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 sta-
tion, at Paris, was reached, where the bulk of
the passengers — all, indeed, but the occu-
pants 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. Pres-
ently 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


IO
THE ROME EXPRESS
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 perempto-
rily 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 dis-
tinctly 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 con-


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 day-
light, 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 deal-
ing 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
12


THE ROME EXPRESS
13
1
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.
Flocon, 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.


14
THE ROME EXPRESS
“ 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.


THE ROME EXPRESS
15
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, how-
ever, he was unable to lay his hand upon his
pocketbook. 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 sus-
picion, 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 im-
portance, 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,


THE ROME EXPRESS
17
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 ?”


THE ROME EXPRESS
19
“ 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 under-
stand a little. One was a soldier; the other,
I think, a clergyman, or priest.”
“ Good!
can verify that directly.
Now, b, with berths 5 and 6. Who was
there?"
“One gentleman. I don't remember his
name. But I shall know him by appear-
ance.
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 trav-
elled through from Rome.”


20
THE ROME EXPRESS
“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 per-
mit 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."


ofa
73042 D
THE ROME EXPRESS
21
“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 sup-
pose?”
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."


22
THE ROME EXPRESS
“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 admis-
sions. 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 com-
panion 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
23


24
THE ROME EXPRESS
a reputation for respectability which was
greatly in their favour.
The third to appear was the tall, gray-
headed Englishman, who had taken a cer-
tain lead at the first discovery of the crime.
He called himself General Sir Charles Col-
lingham, an officer of her Majesty's army;
and the clergyman who shared the compart-
ment 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 de-
tained.
“For the present, yes,” replied M. Floçon,
briefly. He did not care to be asked ques-
tions. 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.
{


THE ROME EXPRESS
25
“I know Lord Dufferin personally; I
was with him in India. Also Colonel Papil-
lon, 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 Général. 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 compart-
ment 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 mous-
tache. He wore a long dark cloak of the


26
THE ROME EXPRESS
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 catas-
trophe."
“And how so, pray? Did you assist?
Were you present? If so, why wait to speak
till now?” said the detective, receiving th
advance rather coldly. It behoved 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 re-
ceive it."
M. Floçon was so anxious to approach
the inquiry without prejudice that he put
up his hand.
V


THE ROME EXPRESS
27
“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 detect-
ive's methods, but he bowed without speak-
ing, and went out.
Last of all the lady appeared, in a long
sealskin travelling cloak, and closely veiled.
She answered M. Flocon'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


28
THE ROME EXPRESS
be so.
trust not." Her voice became appealing,
almost piteous. Her hands, restlessly mov-
ing, showed how much she was distressed.
“Indeed, Madame la Comtesse, it must
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 hand-
some 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;


THE ROME EXPRESS
29
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
grufily. “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 hor-
rible catastrophe. My nerves are quite
shattered. It is too cruel. However, I can


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 over-
haul 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
32


THE ROME EXPRESS
33
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. Flocon'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.


34
THE ROME EXPRESS
M. Flocon examined the body closely,
but without disturbing it. The police med-
ical 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 mur-
dered 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


36
THE ROME EXPRESS
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, what-
ever 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


THE ROME EXPRESS
37
beading, part of the trimming or ornamenta-
tion 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 inev-
itable 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 travel-
ling 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. Flocon left it, and passed on
to the line or permanent way.
Here he found himself a good deal below


38
THE ROME EXPRESS
the level of the car. These sleepers have
no footboards 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. Flocon
climbed nimbly, and so was raised to the
necessary height.
A close scrutiny revealed nothing un-
usual. The exterior of the car was en-
crusted with the mud and dust gathered
in the journey, none of which appeared to
have been disturbed.
M. Flocon reëntered the carriage neither
disappointed nor pleased; his mind was in
an open state, ready to receive any im-
pressions, 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 ROME EXPRESS
39
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 knowl-
edge 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 fr
from her own act and the conse-


40
THE ROME EXPRESS
quences 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 im-
possible feat of climbing out of the car.
So M. Flocon, 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


THE ROME EXPRESS
41
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 recep-
tacle. 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 con-
tents 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 disap-
pointed. It told more against the Countess,
who, if innocent, would have no reason to
conceal or make away with a possibly in-
criminating 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


42
THE ROME EXPRESS
bottle, a small one, the absence of which he
noted, but thought of little consequence,
till, by and by, he came upon it under pecul-
iar circumstances.
Before leaving the car, and after walking
through the other compartments, M. Flocon
made an especially strict search of the
corner where the porter had his own small
chair, his only resting-place, indeed, through-
out the journey. He had not forgotten
the attendant's condition when first ex-
amined, 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 deci-
pherable as S. L. L. C.
It was that of the Countess, and corre-
sponded with the marks on her other be-
longings.


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 ex-
ultant, 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 every-
where; the maid has not been seen. She
certainly is not here.”
44


THE ROME EXPRESS
45
“ 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 disappear-
ance ?
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 dis-
sociated from the maid, and therefore have
affected complete ignorance of her flight?
“I will try her further,” said M. Flocon
to himself.


$6
THE ROME EXPRESS
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 tend-
ing to incriminate the Countess and prob-
ably 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 author-


48
THE ROME EXPRESS
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 senti-
nel! 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.


50
THE ROME EXPRESS
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


THE ROME EXPRESS
ISI
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 inter-
communication 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.
“Can'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 Com-


THE ROME EXPRESS
53
exasperating M. Floçon, who did not under-
stand 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 sur-
rounding 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! Gentle-
men, my regards !”


54
THE ROME EXPRESS
Really, Charles, I fear you are going
too far," said his brother the clergyman,
who, however, had been manifestly enjoy-
ing the whole scene.
“Indeed, yes. It is not necessary, I assure
you,” added the Countess, with tears of
gratitude in her big brown eyes. “I am
most touched, most thankful. You are a
true soldier, a true English gentleman, and
I shall never forget your kindness." Then
she put her hand in his with a pretty, winning
gesture that was reward enough for any
man.
Meanwhile, the Judge, the senior official
present, had learned exactly what had hap-
pened, and he now addressed the General
with a calm but stern rebuke.
“Monsieur will not, I trust, oblige us to
put in force the full power of the law. I
might, if I chose, and as I am fully entitled,
commit you at once to Mazas, to keep you
in solitary confinement. Your conduct has
been deplorable, well calculated to traverse
and impede justice. But I am willing to


THE ROME EXPRESS
55
believe that you were led away, not un-
naturally, as a gallant gentleman, - it is
the characteristic of your nation, of your
cloth, — and that on more mature considera-
tion you will acknowledge and not repeat
your error."
M. Beaumont le Hardi was a grave, florid,
soft-voiced person, with a bald head and a
comfortably-lined white waistcoat; one who
sought his ends by persuasion, not force, but
who had the instincts of a gentleman, and
little sympathy with the peremptory methods
of his more inflammable colleague.
“Oh, with all my heart, monsieur," said
Sir Charles, cordially. “ You saw, or at
least know, how this has occurred. I did
not begin it, nor was I the most to blame.
But I was in the wrong, I admit. What
do you wish me to do now?”
“Give me your promise to abide by our
rules, - they may be irksome, but we think
them necessary, - and hold no further con-
verse with your companions."
“Certainly, certainly, monsieur, at least


THE ROME EXPRESS
59
not dare to leave me here like this, all
alone."
“ Parbleu ! she has dared. Most cer-
tainly she is not here."
“But what can have become of her?"
Ah, madame, what indeed? Can you
form any idea? We hoped you might have
been able to enlighten us."
“I cannot, monsieur, not in the least.”
“Perchance you sent her on to your
hotel to warn your friends that you were
detained? To fetch them, perhaps, to you
in your trouble?”
The trap was neatly contrived, but she
was not deceived.
“How could I? I knew of no trouble
when I saw her last."
Oh, indeed? and when was that?"
“Last night, at Amberieux, as I have
already told that gentleman.” She pointed
to M. Flocon, who was obliged to nod his
head.
“Well, she has gone away somewhere.
It does not much matter, still it is odd, and


THE ROME EXPRESS
61
straw and brown ribbons. I do not allow
my maid to wear colours."
“ Exactly. And her name, age, place of
birth ? "
“Hortense Petitpré, thirty-two, born, I
believe, in Paris.”
The Judge, when these particulars had
been given, looked over his shoulder towards
the detective, but said nothing. It was
quite unnecessary, for M. Flocon, who had
been writing in his note-book, now rose and
left the room. He called Galipaud to him,
saying sharply:
“Here is the more detailed description
of the lady's maid, and in writing. Have
it copied and circulate it at once. Give it
to the station-master, and to the agents of
police round about here. I have an idea
only an idea — that this woman has not gone
far. It may be worth nothing, still there
is the chance. People who are wanted
often hang about the very place they would
not stay in if they were wise. Anyhow, set
a watch for her and come back here."


62
THE ROME EXPRESS
Meanwhile, the Judge had continued his
questioning
“And where, madame, did you obtain
your maid?"
“In Rome. She was there, out of a place.
I heard of her at an agency and registry
office, when I was looking for a maid a
month or two ago.”
Then she has not been long in your
service?”
“No; as I tell you, she came to me in
December last."
Well recommended ? '
“Strongly. She had lived with good
families, French and English.”
“And with you, what was her character?”
“ Irreproachable.”
“Well, so much for Hortense Petitpré.
She is not far off, I dare say. When we want
her we shall be able to lay hands on her, I
do not doubt, madame may rest assured."
“Pray take no trouble in the matter. I
certainly should not keep her.”
Very well, very well. And now, an-


64
THE ROME EXPRESS
>
“No, no - distinctly no.”
“ Nor see him?
Yes, I saw him, I believe, at Modane
with the rest when we dined."
“Ah! exactly so. He dined at Modane.
Was that the only occasion on which you
saw him? You had never met him pre-
viously in Rome, where you resided ? ”
“Whom do you mean? The murdered
man? »
" Who else?”
No, not that I am aware of. At least
I did not recognize him as a friend.”
“I presume, if he was among your
friends"
“Pardon me, that he certainly was not,"
interrupted the Countess.
“Well, among your acquaintances - he
would probably have made himself known
to you?”
“I suppose so."
“And he did not do so ? He never spoke
to you, nor you to him ? "
“I never saw him, the occupant of that


THE ROME EXPRESS
65
compartment, except on that one occasion.
I kept a good deal in my compartment dur-
ing the journey."
“ Alone? It must have been very dull
for you,” said the Judge, pleasantly.
“I was not always alone,” said the Count-
ess, hesitatingly, and with a slight flush.
“ I had friends in the car."
“Oh-oh” — the exclamation was long-
drawn and rather significant.
“Who were they? You may as well tell
us, madame, we should certainly find out."
“I have no wish to withhold the infor-
mation,” she replied, now turning pale, pos-
sibly at the imputation conveyed. “Why
should I?”
" And these friends were
?”
“Sir Charles Collingham and his brother.
They came and sat with me occasionally;
sometimes one, sometimes the other."
During the day?"
“Of course, during the day.” Her eyes
flashed, as though the question was another
offence.


66
THE ROME EXPRESS
“Have you known them long?"
“ The General I met in Roman society
last winter. It was he who introduced his
brother."
Very good, so far. The General knew
you, took an interest in you. That ex-
plains his strange, unjustifiable conduct just
now-"
we will
“I do not think it was either strange
or unjustifiable,” interrupted the Countess,
hotly. “He is a gentleman."
Quite a preux cavalier, of course. But
pass on. You are not a good sleeper,
I believe, madame?”
“Indeed no, I sleep badly, as a rule.”
“ Then you would be easily disturbed.
Now, last night, did
you
hear anything
strange in the car, more particularly in the
adjoining compartment?”
Nothing.”
No sound of voices raised high, no noise
of a conflict, a struggle?”
'No, monsieur.”
“ That is odd. I cannot understand it.


THE ROME EXPRESS
67
We know, beyond all question, from the
appearance of the body, — the corpse,
that there was a fight, an encounter. Yet
you, a wretched sleeper, with only a thin
plank of wood between you and the affray,
hear nothing, absolutely nothing. It is
most extraordinary.”
“I was asleep. I must have been asleep."
“A light sleeper would certainly be awak-
ened. How can you explain - how can
you reconcile that? »
The question was
blandly put, but the Judge's incredulity
verged upon actual insolence.
“Easily: I had taken a soporific. I
always do, on a journey. I am obliged to
keep something, sulphonal or chloral, by
me, on purpose."
Then this, madame, is yours?” And
the Judge, with an air of undisguised triumph,
produced the small glass vial which M.
Floçon had picked up in the sleeping-car
near the conductor's seat.
The Countess, with a quick gesture, put
out her hand to take it.
>


CHAPTER VII
WHEN the Judge had brought down the
interrogation of the Countess to the pro-
duction of the small glass bottle, he paused,
and with a long-drawn “Ah!” of satisfac-
tion, looked round at his colleagues.
Both M. Floçon and the Commissary
nodded their heads approvingly, plainly
sharing his triumph.
Then they all put their heads together
in close, whispered conference.
“ Admirable, M. le Juge!” said the
detective. " You have been most adroit.
It is a clear case."
“No doubt,” said the Commissary, who
was a blunt, rather coarse person, believing
that to take anybody and everybody into
custody is always the safest and simplest
“ It looks black against her. I
think she ought to be arrested at once."
course.
69


70
THE ROME EXPRESS
а.
con-
“We might, indeed we ought to have
more evidence, more definite evidence, per-
haps?” The Judge was musing over the
facts as he knew them. “I should like,
before going further, to look at the car,”
he said, suddenly coming to
clusion.
M. Flocon readily agreed. “We will go
together,” he said, adding, “Madame will
remain here, please, until we return. It
may not be for long."
" And afterwards?” asked the Countess,
whose nervousness had if anything increased
during the whispered colloquy of the officials.
Ah, afterwards! Who knows?' was
the reply, with a shrug of the shoulders, all
most enigmatic and unsatisfactory.
“What have we against her?” said the
Judge, as soon as they had gained the
absolute privacy of the sleeping-car.
“ The bottle of laudanum and the porter's
condition. He was undoubtedly drugged,”
answered the detective; and the discussion
which followed took the form of a dialogue


THE ROME EXPRESS
71
between them, for the Commissary took no
part in it.
" Yes; but why by the Countess? How
do we know that positively?”
“ It is her bottle,” said M. Flocon.
“Her story may be true — that she missed
it, that the maid took it.”
“We have nothing whatever against the
maid. We know nothing about her.”
“No. Except that she has disappeared.
But that tells more against her mistress.
It is all very vague. I do not see my way
quite, as yet.”
“But the fragment of lace, the broken
beading? Surely, M. le Juge, they are a
woman's, and only one woman was in the
car
“ So far as we know."
“ But if these could be proved to be
hers ? »
“Ah! if you could prove that !”
“Easy enough. Have her searched, here
at once, in the station. There is a female
searcher attached to the detention-room.'


72
THE ROME EXPRESS
“It is a strong measure. She is a lady."
“ Ladies who commit crimes must not
expect to be handled with kid gloves.”
“She is an Englishwoman, or with Eng-
lish connections; titled, too. I hesitate,
upon my word. Suppose we are wrong?
It may lead to unpleasantness. M. le
Prefet is anxious to avoid complications
possibly international.'
As he spoke, he bent over, and, taking
a magnifier from his pocket, examined the
lace, which still fluttered where it was caught.
“ It is fine lace, I think. What say you,
M. Flocon? You may be more experienced
in such matters."
“ The finest, or nearly so; I believe it is
Valenciennes — the trimming of some under-
clothing, I should think.
That surely is
sufficient, M. le Juge?”
M. Beaumont le Hardi gave a reluctant
consent, and the Chief went back himself
to see that the searching was undertaken
without loss of time.
The Countess protested, but vainly, against


THE ROME EXPRESS
73
this new indignity. What could she do?
A prisoner, practically friendless, for the
General was not within reach, to resist
was out of the question. Indeed, she was
plainly told that force would be employed
unless she submitted with a good grace.
There was nothing for it but to obey.
Mother Tontaine, as the female searcher
called herself, was an evil-visaged, corpulent
old creature, with a sickly, soft, insinuating
voice, and a greasy, familiar manner that
was most offensive. They had given her
the scrap of torn lace and the débris of the
jet as a guide, with very particular directions
to see if they corresponded with any part of
the lady's apparel.
She soon showed her quality.
" Aha! oho! What is this, my pretty
princess? How comes so great a lady into
the hands of Mother Tontaine? But I will
not harm you, my beauty, my pretty, my
little one. Oh, no, no, I will not trouble you,
dearie. No, trust to me;
» and she held out
one skinny claw, and looked the other way.


74
THE ROME EXPRESS
The Countess did not or would not under-
stand.
Madame has money?” went on the
old hag in a half-threatening, half-coaxing
whisper, as she came up quite close, and
fastened on her victim like a bird of prey.
"If you mean that I am to bribe you —
“Fie, the nasty word! But just a small
present, a pretty gift, one or two yellow bits,
twenty, thirty, forty francs — you'd better.”
She shook the soft arm she held roughly,
and anything seemed preferable than to be
touched by this horrible woman.
“Wait, wait!” cried the Countess, shiver-
ing all over, and, feeling hastily for her
purse, she took out several napoleons.
“ Aha! oho! One, two, three,” said the
searcher in a fat, wheedling voice. “Four,
yes, four, five;" and she clinked the coins
together in her palm, while a covetous light
came into her faded eyes at the joyous sound.
“Five — make it five at once, d'ye hear
me? -- or I'll call them in and tell them.
That will go against you, my princess. What,


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THE ROME EXPRESS
to pay me, my pretty — right. And some
day, to-day, to-morrow, whenever I ask
you, you will remember Mother Tontaine.”
The Countess listened with dismay. What
had she done? Put herself into the power
of this greedy and unscrupulous old beldame?
“And this, my princess? What have we
here, aha ?
Mère Tontaine held up next the broken
bit of jet ornament for inspection, and as
the Countess leaned forward to examine it
more closely, gave it into her hand.
“You recognize it, of course. But be
careful, my pretty! Beware! If any one were
looking, it would ruin you. I could not
save you then. Sh! say nothing, only look,
and quick, give it me back. I must have
it to show."
All this time the Countess was turning
the jet over and over in her open palm, with
a perplexed, disturbed, but hardly a terrified
air.
Yes, she knew it, or thought she knew
it. It had been But how had it come


THE ROME EXPRESS
77
here, into the possession of this base myr-
midon of the French police?
“Give it me, quick!” There was a loud
knock at the door. “They are coming.
Remember!”
Mother Tontaine put her
long finger to her lip. “Not a word! I have
found nothing, of course. Nothing, I can
swear to that, and you will not forget Mother
Tontaine?”
Now M. Floçon stood at the open door
awaiting the searcher's report. He looked
much disconcerted when the old woman
took him on one side and briefly explained
that the search had been altogether fruitless.
There was nothing to justify suspicion,
nothing, so far as she could find.
The detective looked from one to the other
- from the hag he had employed in this
unpleasant quest, to the lady on whom it
had been tried. The Countess, to his sur-
prise, did not complain. He had expected
further and strong upbraidings. Strange
to say, she took it very quietly. There was
no indignation in her face. She was still


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THE ROME EXPRESS
pale, and her hands trembled, but she said
nothing, made no reference, at least, to what
she had just gone through.
Again he took counsel with his colleague,
while the Countess was kept apart.
“What next, M. Floçon ?” asked the
Judge. “What shall we do with her?”
“Let her go,” answered the detective,
briefly.
What! do you suggest this, sir,” said
the Judge, slyly. “After your strong and
well-grounded suspicions?”
They are as strong as ever, stronger;
and I feel sure I shall yet justify them. But
what I wish now is to let her go at large,
under surveillance."
Ah! you would shadow her ? "
“Precisely. By a good agent. Galipaud,
for instance. He speaks English, and he
can, if necessary, follow her anywhere, even
to England."
She can be extradited,” said the Com-
missary, with his one prominent idea of
arrest.


THE ROME EXPRESS
79
“Do you agree, M. le Juge? Then, if
you will permit me, I will give the necessary
orders, and perhaps you will inform the
lady that she is free to leave the station ? "
The Countess now had reason to change
her opinion of the French officials. Great
politeness now replaced the first severity
that had been so cruel. She was told, with
many bows and apologies, that her regretted
but unavoidable detention was at an end.
Not only was she freely allowed to depart,
but she was escorted by both M. Floçon and
the Commissary outside, to where an omnibus
was in waiting, and all her baggage piled on
top, even to the dressing-bag, which had
been neatly repacked for her.
But the little silver-topped vial had not
been restored to her, nor the handkerchief.
In her joy at her deliverance, either she
had not given these a second thought, or
she did not wish to appear anxious to re-
cover them.
Nor did she notice that, as the bus passed
through the gates at the bottom of the large


CHAPTER VIII
A FIRST stage in the inquiry had now been
reached, with results that seemed promising,
and were yet contradictory.
No doubt the watch to be set on the
Countess might lead to something yet
something to bring first plausible suspicion
to a triumphant issue; but the examination
of the other occupants of the car should not
be allowed to slacken on that account. The
Countess might have some confederate among
them — this pestilent English General, per-
haps, who had made himself so conspicuous
in her defence; or some one of them might
throw light upon her movements, upon her
conduct during the journey.
Then, with a spasm of self-reproach, M.
Flocon remembered that two distinct sug-
gestions had been made to him by two of
81


82
THE ROME EXPRESS
the travellers, and that, so far, he had neg-
lected them. One was the significant hint
from the Italian that he could materially
help the inquiry. The other was the General's
sneering assertion that the train had not
continued its journey uninterruptedly be-
tween Laroche and Paris.
Consulting the Judge, and laying these
facts before him, it was agreed that the
Italian's offer seemed the most important,
and he was accordingly called in next.
“Who and what are you?” asked the
Judge, carelessly, but the answer roused him
at once to intense interest, and he could not
quite resist a glance of reproach at M.
Floçon.
My name I have given you Natale
Ripaldi. I am a detective officer belonging
to the Roman police.”
What!” cried M. Floçon, colouring
deeply. “This is unheard of. Why in the
name of all the devils have you withheld this
most astonishing statement until now?"
“Monsieur surely remembers. I told


THE ROME EXPRESS
83
-
him half an hour ago I had something im-
portant to communicate - "
“Yes, yes, of course. But why were you
SO reticent. Good Heavens!”
Monsieur was not so encouraging that
I felt disposed to force on him what I knew
he would have to hear in due course."
It is monstrous quite abominable, and
shall not end here. Your superiors shall
hear of your conduct,” went on the Chief,
hotly.
“They will also hear, and, I think, listen
to my version of the story, --that I offered
you fairly, and at the first opportunity, all
the information I had, and that you refused
to accept it.”
“ You should have persisted. It was your
manifest duty. You are an officer of the
law, or you say you are.”
“ Pray telegraph at once,
if
you
think fit,
to Rome, to the police authorities, and you
will find that Natale Ripaldi — your humble
servant – travelled by the through express
with their knowledge and authority. And


84
THE ROME EXPRESS
here are my credentials, my official card,
some official letters - "
“And what, in a word, have you to tell
us?"
“I can tell you who the murdered man
was."
“We know that already."
“Possibly; but only his name, I appre-
hend. I know his profession, his business,
his object in travelling, for I was appointed
to watch and follow him. That is why I
am here."
“ Was he a suspicious character, then ?
A criminal?"
“At any rate he was absconding from
Rome, with valuables.”
“ A thief, in fact?"
The Italian put out the palms of his hands
with a gesture of doubt and deprecation.
“ Thief is a hard, ugly word. That which
he was removing was, or had been, his own
property."
Tut, tut! do be more explicit and get
on,” interrupted the little Chief, testily.


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THE ROME EXPRESS
“Naturally," echoed the fiery little detect-
ive.
“I made it my business to place the
banker under surveillance, to learn his
habits, his ways of life, see who were his
friends, the houses he visited. I soon knew
much that I wanted to know, although not
all. But one fact I discovered, and think it
right to inform you of it at once. He was
on intimate terms with La Castagneto — at
least, he frequently called upon her.”
“La Castagneto! Do you mean the
Countess of that name, who was a passenger
in the sleeper?”
Beyond doubt! it is she I mean.” The
officials looked at each other eagerly, and
M. Beaumont le Hardi quickly turned over
the sheets on which the Countess's evi-
dence was recorded.
She had denied acquaintance with this
murdered man, Quadling, and here was
positive evidence that they were on intimate
terms !
“He was at her house on the very day we
-


THE ROME EXPRESS
87
all left Rome — in the evening, towards
dusk. The Countess had an apartment in
the Via Margutta, and when he left her he
returned to his own place in the Condotti,
entered the bank, stayed half an hour, then
came out with one hand-bag and rug, called
a cab, and was driven straight to the railway
station.”
“And you followed ?”
“ Of course.
When I saw him walk
straight to the sleeping-car, and ask the
conductor for 7 and 8, I knew that his plans
had been laid, and that he was on the point
of leaving Rome secretly. When, presently,
La Castagneto also arrived, I concluded
that she was in his confidence, and that
possibly they were eloping together.”
Why did you not arrest him?"
“I had no authority, even if I had had the
time. Although I was ordered to watch the
Signor Quadling, I had no warrant for his
arrest. But I decided on the spur of the
moment what course I should take. It
seemed to be the only one, and that was to


88
THE ROME EXPRESS
embark in the same train and stick close to
my man."
“ You informed your superiors, I sup-
pose ? "
“Pardon me, monsieur," said the Italian
blandly to the Chief, who asked the question,
“ but have you any right to inquire into my
conduct towards my superiors? In all that
affects the murder I am at your orders, but
in this other matter it is between me and
them.”
“Ta, ta, ta! They will tell us if
you
will
not. And you had better be careful, lest
you obstruct justice. Speak out, sir, and
beware. What did you intend to do?”
“To act according to circumstances. If
my suspicions were confirmed — "
“What suspicions ?
Why — that this banker was carrying
off any large sum in cash, notes, securities,
as in effect he was."
“ Ah! You know that? How?"
“By my own eyes. I looked into his
compartment once and saw him in the act
“


THE ROME EXPRESS
89
of counting them over, a great quantity,
in fact
Again the officials looked at each other
significantly. They had got at last to a
motive for the crime.
“And that, of course, would have justified
his arrest ? "
Exactly. I proposed, directly we arrived
in Paris, to claim the assistance of your police
and take him into custody. But his fate
interposed.”
There was a pause, a long pause, for
another important point had been reached
in the inquiry: the motive for the murder
had been made clear, and with it the pre-
sụmption against the Countess gained terrible
strength.
But there was more, perhaps, to be got
out of this dark-visaged Italian detective,
who had already proved so useful an ally.
“ One or two words more," said the Judge
to Ripaldi. “During the journey, now,
did you have any conversation with this
Quadling?”


THE ROME EXPRESS
91
the porter
On better, more familiar terms, than is usual
between mistress and maid.”
“ The maid knew something?”
Ah, monsieur, it is only an idea. But
I give it you for what it is worth.”
“ Well, well, this maid — what was she
like?”
“Tall, dark, good-looking, not too re-
served. She made other friends -
and the English Colonel. I saw the last
speaking to her. I spoke to her myself.”
“What can have become of her?” said
the Judge.
“Would M. le Juge like me to go in
search of her? That is, if you have no more
questions to ask, no wish to detain me
further?”
We will consider that, and let
you
know
in a moment, if you will wait outside.”
And then, when alone, the officials de-
liberated.
It was a good offer, the man knew her
appearance, he was in possession of all the
facts, he could be trusted —


92
THE ROME EXPRESS
“Ah, but can he, though?” queried the
detective. “How do we know he has told
us truth? What guarantee have we of his
loyalty, his good faith? What if he is also
concerned in the crime — has some guilty
knowledge? What if he killed Quadling
himself, or was an accomplice before or
after the fact? "
“ All these are possibilities, of course,
but — pardon me, dear colleague
a little
far-fetched, eh?” said the Judge. Why
not utilize this man? If he betrays us —
serves us ill — if we had reason to lay hands
on him again, he could hardly escape us.”
“Let him go, and send some one with
him,” said the Commissary, the first practical
suggestion he had yet made.
“Excellent !” cried the Judge. “You
have another man here, Chief; let him go
with this Italian."
They called in Ripaldi and told him,
“We will accept your services, monsieur,
and you can begin your search at once. In
what direction do you propose to begin ? ”


THE ROME EXPRESS
95
“ That is not so certain; he may have
changed his appearance. Besides, he does
not know the latest developments, and might
not be very cordial.”
You might write me a few lines to take
to him.”
“I think not. We prefer to send Block,"
replied the Chief, briefly and decidedly. He
did not like this pertinacity, and looked at
his colleagues as though he sought their
concurrence in altering the arrangements
for the Italian's mission. It might be wiser
to detain him still.
“It was only to save trouble that I made
the suggestion,” hastily put in Ripaldi.
Naturally I am in your hands. And if I
do not meet with the maid at the hotel, I
may have to look further, in which case
Monsieur — Block? thank you — would no
doubt render valuable assistance."
This speech restored confidence, and a few
minutes later the two detectives, already
excellent friends from the freemasonry of a
common craft, left the station in a closed cab.


CHAPTER IX
“WHAT next?” asked the Judge.
“ That pestilent English officer, if you
please, M. le Juge,” said the detective.
“ That fire-eating, swashbuckling soldier,
with his blustering barrack-room ways. I
long to come to close quarters with him. He
ridiculed
me,
taunted
me, said I knew
nothing - we will see, we will see."
"In fact, you wish to interrogate him
yourself. Very well. Let us have him in.'
When Sir Charles Collingham entered,
he included the three officials in one cold,
stiff bow, waited a moment, and then, find-
ing he was not offered a chair, said with
studied politeness:
“I presume I may sit down ?”
Pardon. Of course; pray be seated,"
said the Judge, hastily, and evidently a little
ashamed of himself.
96


THE ROME EXPRESS
97
“Ah! thanks. Do you object?” went
on the General, taking out a silver cigarette-
case. “May I offer one?” He handed
round the box affably.
“We do not smoke on duty," answered
the Chief, rudely. “Nor is smoking per-
mitted in a court of justice.”
“Come, come, I wish to show no dis-
respect. But I cannot recognize this as a
court of justice, and I think, if you will for-
give me, that I shall take three whiffs. It
may help me keep my temper.”
He was evidently making game of them.
There was no symptom remaining of the
recent effervescence when he was acting as
the Countess's champion, and he was per-
fectly — nay, insolently calm and self-pos-
sessed.
You call yourself General Collingham?
went on the Chief.
“I do not call myself. I am General Sir
Charles Collingham, of the British Army.”
« Retired ?"
“No, I am still on the active list.”


THE ROME EXPRESS
99
gallant gentleman, to meet us in a proper
spirit and give us your best help.”
Indeed, I am quite ready. If there has
been any unpleasantness, it has surely not
been of my making, but rather of that little
man there.” The General pointed to M.
Flocon rather contemptuously, and nearly
started a fresh disturbance.
“Well, well, let us say no more of that,
and proceed to business. I understand,”
said the Judge, after fingering a few pages
of the dispositions in front of him, " that
you are a friend of the Contessa di Casta-
gneto? Indeed, she has told us so herself.”
“It was very good of her to call me her
friend. I am proud to hear she so considers
me.”
“How long have you known her?”
“Four or five months. Since the begin-
ning of the last winter season in Rome.”
“ Did you frequent her house ? "
“If you mean, was I permitted to call on
her on friendly terms, yes.'
“ Did you know all her friends ?”


IOO
THE ROME EXPRESS
“ How can I answer that? I know whom
I met there from time to time."
Exactly. Did you often meet among
them a Signor
Quadling?'
Quadling Quadling? I cannot say
that I have. The name is familiar some-
how, but I cannot recall the man."
“Have you never heard of the Roman
bankers, Correse & Quadling?”
“Ah, of course. Although I have had no
dealing with them. Certainly I have never
met Mr. Quadling."
“Not at the Countess's?"
“Never — of that I am quite sure."
And yet we have had positive evidence
that he was a constant visitor there."
“ It is perfectly incomprehensible to me.
Not only have I never met him, but I have
never heard the Countess mention his name.'
It will surprise you, then, to be told
that he called at her apartment in the Via
Margutta on the very evening of her depar-
ture from Rome. Called, was admitted,
was closeted with her for more than an hour.”


THE ROME EXPRESS
IOI
“I am surprised, astounded. I called
there myself about four in the afternoon to
offer my services for the journey, and I too
stayed till after five. I can hardly believe it.”
“I have more surprises for you, General.
What will you think when I tell you that
this very Quadling — this friend, acquaint-
ance, call him what you please, but at least
intimate enough to pay her a visit on the
eve of a long journey — was the man found
murdered in the sleeping-car? ”
Can it be possible? Are you sure?”
cried Sir Charles, almost starting from his
chair. “ And what do you deduce from all
this? What do you imply? An accusation
against that lady? Absurd !”
“I respect your chivalrous desire to stand
up for a lady who calls you her friend, but
we are officials first, and sentiment cannot be
permitted to influence us. We have good
reasons for suspecting that lady. I tell you
that frankly, and trust to you as a soldier
and man of honour not to abuse the con-
fidence reposed in you."


102
THE ROME EXPRESS
May I not know those reasons ?”
“Because she was in the car —
the only
woman, you understand - between Laroche
and Paris.”
“Do you suspect a female hand, then?”
asked the General, evidently much interested
and impressed.
“ That is so, although I am exceeding my
duty in revealing this.”
“ And you are satisfied that this lady, a
refined, delicate person in the best society,
of the highest character, — believe me, I
know that to be the case, - whom you yet
suspect of an atrocious crime, was the only
female in the car ? »
“ Obviously. Who else? What other
woman could possibly have been in the car ?
No one got in at Laroche; the train never
stopped till it reached Paris.”
“ On that last point at least you are quite
mistaken, I assure you. Why not upon the
other also ?”
“The train stopped ?" interjected the
detective. "
Why has no one told us that?"


THE ROME EXPRESS
103
Possibly because you never asked. But
it is nevertheless the fact. Verify it. Every
one will tell you the same.”
The detective himself hurried to the door
and called in the porter. He was within
his rights, of course, but the action showed
distrust, at which the General only smiled,
but he laughed outright when the still stupid
and half-dazed porter, of course, corroborated
the statement at once.
“At whose instance was the train pulled
up?” asked the detective, and the Judge
nodded his head approvingly.
To know that would fix fresh suspicion.
But the porter could not answer the
question.
Some one had rung the alarm-bell — so at
least the conductor had declared; otherwise
they should not have stopped. Yet he, the
porter, had not done so, nor did any pas-
senger come forward to admit giving the
signal. But there had been a halt. Yes,
assuredly.
“ This is a new light,” the Judge con-
.


104
THE ROME EXPRESS
fessed. “Do you draw any conclusion from
it?” he went on to ask the General.
“ That is surely your business. I have
only elicited the fact to disprove your theory.
But if you wish, I will tell you how it strikes
me."
The Judge bowed assent.
The bare fact that the train was halted
would mean little. That would be the
natural act of a timid or excitable person
involved indirectly in such a catastrophe.
But to disavow the act starts suspicion. The
fair inference is that there was some reason,
an unavowable reason, for halting the train.”
“And that reason would be ---"
“ You must see it without my assistance,
surely! Why, what else but to afford some
one an opportunity to leave the car.”
“ But how could that be ? You would
have seen that person, some of you, espe-
cially at such a critical time. The aisle
would be full of people, both exits were thus
practically overlooked.”
My idea is - it is only an idea, under-


THE ROME EXPRESS
105
the car
" When was
2
stand that the person had already left
that is to say, the interior of the
car."
· Escaped how? Where? What do you
mean?"
Escaped through the open window of
the compartment where you found the
murdered man."
“ You noticed the open window, then ? "
quickly asked the detective.
that?"
“ Directly I entered the compartment at
the first alarm. It occurred to me at once
that some one might have gone through it.”
“ But no woman could have done it. To
climb out of an express train going at top
speed would be an impossible feat for a
woman,” said the detective, doggedly.
“Why, in God's name, do you still harp
upon the woman? Why should it be a woman
more than a man?
“Because" - it was the Judge who spoke,
but he paused a moment in deference to a
gesture of protest from M. Floçon. The


106
THE ROME EXPRESS
little detective was much concerned at the
utter want of reticence displayed by his
colleague.
Because,” went on the Judge with
decision --" because this was found in the
compartment;” and he held out the piece
of lace and the scrap of beading for the
General's inspection, adding quickly, “ You
have seen these, or one of them, or something
like them before. I am sure of it; I call
upon you; I demand — no, I appeal to your
sense of honour, Sir Collingham. Tell me,
please, exactly what you know.”


CHAPTER X
THE General sat for a time staring hard at
the bit of torn lace and the broken beads.
Then he spoke out firmly:
“It is my duty to withhold nothing. It
is not the lace. That I could not swear to;
for me – and probably for most men — two
pieces of lace are very much the same. But
I think I have seen these beads, or something
exactly like them, before.”
" Where? When?"
They formed part of the trimming of a
mantle worn by the Contessa di Castagneto.'
“Ah!” it was the same interjection ut-
tered simultaneously by the three French-
men, but each had a very different note; in
the Judge it was deep interest, in the detective
triumph, in the Commissary indignation, as
when he caught a criminal red-handed.
107


108
THE ROME EXPRESS
“ Did she wear it on the journey?” con-
tinued the Judge.
“ As to that I cannot say.”
Come, come, General, you were with
her constantly; you must be able to tell us.
We insist on being told.” This fiercely, from
the now jubilant M. Flocon.
“I repeat that I cannot say. To the best
of
my recollection, the Countess wore a long
travelling cloak — an ulster, as we call them.
The jacket with those bead ornaments may
have been underneath. But if I have seen
them, - as I believe I have, it was not
during this journey."
Here the Judge whispered to M. Floçon,
“The searcher did not discover any second
mantle."
“How do we know the woman examined
thoroughly?” he replied. Here, at least,
is direct evidence as to the beads. At last
the net is drawing round this fine Countess."
“Well, at any rate,” said the detective
aloud, returning to the General, “ these beads
were found in the compartment of the mur-
-
2


THE ROME EXPRESS
109
dered man. I should like that explained,
please.”
By me? How can I explain it? And
the fact does not bear upon what we were
considering, as to whether any one had left
the car."
Why not ?"
“The Countess, as we know, never left
the car. As to her entering this particular
compartment, — at any previous time, - it
is highly improbable. Indeed, it is rather
insulting her to suggest it.”
“She and this Quadling were close
friends."
“So you say. On what evidence I do
not know, but I dispute it."
Then how could the beads get there?
They were her property, worn by her.”
“Once, I admit, but not necessarily on
this journey. Suppose she had given the
mantle away - to her maid, for instance; I
believe ladies often pass on their things to
their maids."
“ It is all pure presumption, a mere


IIO
THE ROME EXPRESS
theory. This maid — she has not as yet
been imported into the discussion.'
“ Then I would suggest that you do so
without delay. She is to my mind a — well,
rather a curious person.”
You know her
spoke to her?"
“I know her, in a way. I had seen her
in the Via Margutta, and I nodded to her
when she came first into the car."
" And on the journey — you spoke to her
frequently?
“I? Oh, dear, no, not at all. I noticed
her, certainly; I could not help it, and per-
haps I ought to tell her mistress. She seemed
to make friends a little too readily with
people.”
“ As for instance - ?"
“With the porter to begin with. I saw
them together at Laroche, in the buffet at
the bar; and that Italian, the man who was
in here before me; indeed, with the mur-
dered man. She seemed to know them all."
“Do you imply that the maid might be
of use in this inquiry?"


II2
THE ROME EXPRESS
Explain yourself. Quick, quick. What
in God's name do you mean?”
“I had my suspicions from the first, and
I will tell you why. At Laroche the car
emptied, as you may have heard; every one
except the Countess, at least, went over to
the restaurant for early coffee; I with the
rest. I was one of the first to finish, and I
strolled back to the platform to get a few
whiffs of a cigarette. At that moment I
saw, or thought I saw, the end of a skirt
disappearing into the sleeping-car. I con-
cluded it was this maid, Hortense, who
was taking her mistress a cup of coffee.
Then my brother came up, we exchanged
a few words, and entered the car to-
gether.”
' By the same door as that through which
you had seen the skirt pass ? "
“No, by the other. My brother went
back to his berth, but I paused in the corridor
to finish my cigarette after the train had
gone
on. By this time every one but myself had
returned to his berth, and I was on the point


114
THE ROME EXPRESS
as we were approaching Paris, and I had
heard from the Countess that the porter had
made many difficulties. But you see, after
what has happened, that there was a reason
for stopping the train."
“Quite so," M. Flocon readily admitted,
with a scarcely concealed sneer.
He had quite made up his mind now
that it was the Countess who had rung the
alarm-bell, in order to allow of the escape of
the maid, her confederate and accomplice.
“And you still have an impression that
some one presumably this woman -
got
off the car, somehow, during the stoppage ?
he asked.
“I suggest it, certainly. Whether it was
or could be so, I must leave to your superior
judgment."
“ What! A woman climb out like that?
Bah! Tell that to some one else!”
“You have, of course, examined the ex-
terior of the car, dear colleague?”
said the Judge.
Assuredly, once, but I will do it again.
now


THE ROME EXPRESS
I15
Still, the outside is quite smooth, there is no
footboard. Only an acrobat could succeed
in thus escaping, and then only at the peril
of his life. But a woman - oh, no! it is
too absurd."
“ With help she might, I think, get up
on to the roof,” quickly remarked Sir Charles.
“I have looked out of the window of my
compartment. It would be nothing for a
man, nor much for a woman if assisted."
“ That we will see for ourselves," said
the detective, ungraciously.
The sooner the better,” added the Judge,
and the whole party rose from their chairs,
intending to go straight to the car, when the
policeman on guard appeared at the door,
followed close by an English military officer
in uniform, whom he was trying to keep
back, but with no great success.
Colonel Papillon of the Embassy.
Halloa, Jack! you are a good chap,"
cried the General, quickly going forward to
shake hands. “I was
sure you would
come.
It was


116
THE ROME EXPRESS
“Come, sir! Of course I came. I was
just going to an official function, as you see,
but his Excellency insisted, my horse was at
the door, and here I am."
All this was in English, but the attaché
turned now to the officials, and, with many
apologies for his intrusion, suggested that
they should allow his friend, the General, to
return with him to the Embassy when they
had done with him.
Of course we will answer for him. He
shall remain at your disposal, and will
appear whenever called upon.” He returned
to Sir Charles, asking, “You will promise
that, sir?"
“Oh, willingly. I had always meant to
stay on a bit in Paris. And really I should
like to see the end of this. But my brother?
He must get home for next Sunday's duty.
He has nothing to tell, but he would come
back to Paris at any time if his evidence
was wanted.”
The French Judge very obligingly agreed
to all these proposals, and two more of the


THE ROME EXPRESS
117
detained passengers, making four in all,
now left the station.
Then the officials proceeded to the car,
which still remained as the Chief Detective
had left it.
Here they soon found how just were the
General's previsions.


CHAPTER XI
THE three officials went straight to where
the still open window showed the particular
spot to be examined. The exterior of the
car was a little smirched and stained with
the dust of the journey, lying thick in parts,
and in others there were a few great splotches
of mud plastered on.
The detective paused for a moment to
get a general view, looking, in the light of
the General's suggestion, for either hand or
foot marks, anything like a trace of the
passage of a feminine skirt, across the dusty
surface.
But nothing was to be seen, nothing
definite or conclusive at least. Only here
and there a few lines and scratches that
might be encouraging, but proved little.
Then the Commissary, drawing nearer,
118


THE ROME EXPRESS
119
called attention to some suspicious spots
sprinkled about the window, but above it
towards the roof.
“ What is it?" asked the detective, as his
colleague with the point of his long fore-
finger nail picked at the thin crust on the
top of one of these spots, disclosing a dark,
viscous core.
“I could not swear to it, but I believe it
is blood.”
« Blood! Good Heavens ! ” cried the
detective, as he dragged his powerful mag-
nifying glass out of his pocket and applied
it to the spot. “Look, M. le Juge,” he added,
after a long and minute examination. “What
say you?”
“It has that appearance. Only medical
evidence can positively decide, but I believe
it is blood.”
“ Now we are on the right track, I feel
convinced. Some one fetch a ladder."
One of these curious French ladders,
narrow at the top, splayed out at the base,
was quickly leaned against the car, and the


THE ROME EXPRESS
I21
colleagues on the ground level, and, rubbing
his hands, declared joyously that it was all
perfectly clear.
Dangerous or not, difficult or not, she
did it. I have traced her; have seen where
she must have lain crouching ever so long,
followed her all along the top of the car, to
the end where she got down above the little
platform exit. Beyond doubt she left the
car when it stopped, and by arrangement with
her confederate."
“ The Countess?"
“ Who else?”
“ And at a point near Paris. The Eng-
lish General said the halt was within twenty
minutes' run of the station.'
“ Then it is from that point we must
commence our search for her. The Italian
has gone on the wrong scent.”
“Not necessarily. The maid, we may
be sure, will try to communicate with her
mistress.”
“ Still, it would be well to secure her
before she can do that,” said the Judge.


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“ With all we know now, a sharp interroga-
tion might extract some very damaging
admissions from her," went on the detective,
eagerly. “Who is to go? I have sent away
both my assistants.
assistants. Of course I can tel-
ephone for another man, or I might go
myself.”
“No, no, dear colleague, we cannot spare
you just yet. Telephone by all means. I
presume you would wish to be present at
the rest of the interrogatories?
Certainly, you are right. We may
elicit more about this maid. Let us call in
the porter now. He is said to have had
relations with her. Something more may
be got out of him.”
The more did not amount to much.
Groote, the porter, came in, cringing and
wretched, in the abject state of a man who
has lately been drugged and is now slowly
recovering. Although sharply questioned,
he had nothing to add to his first story.
“Speak out,” said the Judge, harshly.
“ Tell us everything plainly and promptly,


THE ROME EXPRESS
123
or I shall send you straight to gaol. The
order is already made out;” and as he
spoke, he waved a flimsy bit of paper before
him.
“I know nothing," the porter protested,
piteously.
That is false. We are fully informed
and no fools. We are certain that no such
catastrophe could have occurred without
your knowledge or connivance.”
“Indeed, gentlemen, indeed -"
You were drinking with this maid at
the buffet at Laroche. You had more drink
with her, or from her hands, afterwards in
the car."
“No, gentlemen, that is not so. I could
not - she was not in the car."
“ We know better. You cannot deceive us.
You were her accomplice, and the accom-
plice of her mistress, also, I have no doubt."
“I declare solemnly that I am quite
innocent of all this. I hardly remember
what happened at Laroche or after. I do
not deny the drink at the buffet. It was


I 24
THE ROME EXPRESS
very nasty, I thought, and could not tell
why, nor why I could not hold
my
head
up
when I got back to the car.”
“ You went off to sleep at once? Is that
what you pretend ? ”
“ It must have been so. Yes. Then I
know nothing more, not till I was aroused.”
And beyond this, a tale to which he stuck
with undeviating persistence, they could
elicit nothing.
“ He is either too clever for us or an ab-
solute idiot and fool,” said the Judge, wearily,
at last, when Groote had gone out.
had better commit him to Mazas and hold
him there in solitary confinement under our
hands. After a day or two of that he may be
less difficult.”
“It is quite clear he was drugged, that
the maid put opium or laudanum into his
drink at Laroche.”
“And enough of it apparently, for he says
he went off to sleep directly he returned to
the car,” the Judge remarked.
“He says so.
But he must have had a
" We


THE ROME EXPRESS
125
second dose, or why was the vial found on
the ground by his seat?” asked the Chief,
thoughtfully, as much of himself as of the
others.
“I cannot believe in a second dose. How
was it administered - by whom? It was
laudanum, and could only be given in a
drink. He says he had no second drink.
And by whom? The maid? He says he
did not see the maid again.'
“Pardon me, M. le Juge, but do you not
give too much credibility to the porter ?
For me, his evidence is tainted, and I hardly
believe a word of it. Did he not tell me at
first he had not seen this maid after Ambe-
rieux at 8 P. M. ? Now he admits that he was
drinking with her at the buffet at Laroche.
It is all a tissue of lies, his losing the
pocketbook and his papers too. There
is something to conceal. Even his sleepi-
ness, his stupidity, are likely to have been
assumed.”
“I do not think he is acting; he has not
the ability to deceive us like that.”


THE ROME EXPRESS
127
more
but neither courage nor brute force to
execute. There was a man in this, rest
assured.”
“ Granted. But who? That fire-eating
Sir Collingham ? ” quickly asked the de-
tective, giving rein once
to his
hatred.
“ That is not a solution that commends
itself to me, I must confess," declared the
Judge. “The General's conduct has been
blameworthy and injudicious, but he is not
of the stuff that makes criminals."
“Who, then? The porter? No? The
clergyman? No? The French gentlemen ?
well, we have not examined them yet; but
from what I saw at the first cursory glance,
I am not disposed to suspect them.”
What of that Italian?” asked the Com-
missary. “ Are you sure of him? His looks
did not please me greatly, and he was very
eager to get away from here. What if he
takes to his heels ? »
“ Block is with him,” the Chief put in
hastily, with the evident desire to stifle an


128
THE ROME EXPRESS
unpleasant misgiving. “We have touch of
him if we want him, as we may.”
How much they might want him they
only realized when they got further in their
inquiry!


130
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fat and comfortable, unctuous in speech, and
exceedingly deferential.
The story he told was in its main out-
lines that which we already know, but he
was further questioned, by the light of the
latest facts and ideas as now elicited.
The line adroitly taken by the Judge was
to get some evidence of collusion and com-
bination among the passengers, especially
with reference to two of them, the two women
of the party. On this important point M.
Lafolay had something to say.
Asked if he had seen or noticed the lady's
maid on the journey, he answered “yes'
very decisively and with a smack of the lips,
as though the sight of this pretty and at-
tractive person had given him considerable
satisfaction.
“ Did you speak to her?”
“Oh, no. I had no opportunity. Besides,
she had her own friends great friends, I
fancy. I caught her more than once whisper-
ing in the corner of the car with one of them.”
And that was ?”


THE ROME EXPRESS
131
“I think the Italian gentleman; I am
almost sure I recognized his clothes. I did
not see his face, it was turned from me —
towards hers, and very close, I may be per-
mitted to say."
“ And they were friendly?”
“ More than friendly, I should say. Very
intimate indeed. I should not have been
surprised if - when I turned away as a
matter of fact — if he did not touch, just
touch, her red lips. It would have been
excusable -- forgive me, messieurs.”
“Aha! They were so intimate as that?
Indeed! And did she reserve her favours
exclusively for him? Did no one else ad-
dress her, pay her court on the quiet — you
understand?"
“I saw her with the porter, I believe, at
Laroche, but only then. No, the Italian was
her chief companion.”
Did any one else notice the flirtation, do
you think?"
It
“Possibly. There was no secrecy.
was very marked. We could all see.''


132
THE ROME EXPRESS
“ And her mistress too?"
“That I will not say. The lady I saw
but little during the journey.”
A few more questions, mainly personal,
as to his address, business, probable presence
in Paris for the next few weeks, and M.
Lafolay was permitted to depart.
The examination of the younger French-
man, a smart, alert young man, of pleasant,
insinuating address, with a quick, inquisitive
eye, followed the same lines, and was dis-
tinctly corroborative on all the points to
which M. Lafolay spoke. But M. Jules
Devaux had something startling to impart
concerning the Countess.
When asked if he had seen her or spoken
to her, he shook his head.
“No; she kept very much to herself,"
he said. “I saw her but little, hardly at
all, except at Modane. She kept her own
berth.”
“Where she received her own friends?"
“Oh, beyond' doubt. The Englishmen
both visited her there, but not the Italian."


THE ROME EXPRESS
133
“ The Italian ? Are we to infer that she
knew the Italian?"
“ That is what I wish to convey. Not on
the journey, though. Between Rome and
Paris she did not seem to know him. It was
afterwards; this morning, in fact, that I
came to the conclusion that there was some
secret understanding between them.”
“Why do you say that, M. Devaux ? "
cried the detective, excitedly. “Let me urge
you and implore you to speak out, and fully.
This is of the utmost, of the very first, im-
portance.'
“Well, gentlemen, I will tell you. As
you are well aware, on arrival at this station
we were all ordered to leave the car, and
marched to the waiting-room, out there.
As a matter of course, the lady entered first,
and she was seated when I went in. There
was a strong light on her face.”
Was her veil down ?"
“Not then. I saw her lower it later, and,
as I think, for reasons I will presently put
before you. Madame has a beautiful face,


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THE ROME EXPRESS
and I gazed at it with sympathy, grieving
for her, in fact, in such a trying situation;
when suddenly I saw a great and remarkable
change come over it.”
“Of what character?"
“It was a look of horror, disgust, surprise,
- a little perhaps of all three; I could not
quite say which, it faded so quickly and was
followed by a cold, deathlike pallor. Then
almost immediately she lowered her veil.”
“Could you form any explanation for
what you saw in her face? What caused
it?”
Something unexpected, I believe, some
shock, or the sight of something shocking.
That was how it struck me, and so forcibly
that I turned to look over my shoulder,
expecting to find the reason there. And it
was."
That reason
- ?"
“ Was the entrance of the Italian, who
came just behind me. I am certain of this;
he almost told me so himself, not in words,
but the unmistakable leer he gave her in


THE ROME EXPRESS
135
reply. It was wicked, sardonic, devilish,
and proved beyond doubt that there was
some secret, some guilty secret perhaps,
between them.”
“And was that all ? " cried both the
Judge and M. Floçon in a breath, leaning
forward in their eagerness to hear more.
'For the moment, yes. But I was made
so interested, so suspicious by this, that I
watched the Italian closely, awaiting, ex-
pecting further developments. They were
long in coming; indeed, I am only at the end
now."
“Explain, pray, as quickly as possible,
and in your own words.”
“It was like this, monsieur. When we
were all seated, I looked round, and did not
at first see our Italian. At last I discovered
he had taken a back seat, through modesty
perhaps, or to be out of observation - how
was I to know? He sat in the shadow by a
door, that, in fact, which leads into this room.
He was thus in the background, rather out
of the way, but I could see his eyes glittering
>>


136 THE ROME EXPRESS
in that far-off corner, and they were turned
in our direction, always fixed upon the lady,
you understand. She was next me, the whole
time.
Then, as you will remember, monsieur,
you called us in one by one, and I, with
M. Lafolay, was the first to appear before
you. When I returned to the outer room,
the Italian was still staring, but not so fixedly
or continuously, at the lady. From time to
time his eyes wandered towards a table near
which he sat, and which was just in the
gangway or passage by which people must
pass into your presence.
“ There was some reason for this, I felt
sure, although I did not understand it imme-
diately.
“Presently I got at the hidden meaning.
There was a small piece of paper,
rolled
up
or crumpled up into a ball, lying upon this
table, and the Italian wished, nay, was
desperately anxious, to call the lady's atten-
tion to it. If I had had any doubt of this,
it was quite removed after the man had gone
in


THE ROME EXPRESS
137
into the inner room. As he left us, he turned
his head over his shoulder significantly and
nodded very slightly, but still perceptibly,
at the ball of paper.
“Well, gentlemen, I was now satisfied
in my own mind that this was some artful
attempt of his to communicate with the lady,
and had she fallen in with it, I should have
immediately informed you, the proper author-
ities. But whether from stupidity, dread,
disinclination, a direct, definite refusal to
have any dealings with this man, the lady
would not — at any rate did not — - pick
up the ball, as she might have done easily
when she in her turn passed the table on her
way to your presence.
“ I have no doubt it was thrown there for
her, and probably you will agree with me.
But it takes two to make a game of this sort,
and the lady would not join. Neither on
leaving the room nor on returning would
she take up the missive."
And what became of it, then?” asked
the detective in breathless excitement,


138
THE ROME EXPRESS
I
“I have it here." M. Devaux opened
the palm of his hand and displayed the
scrap of paper in the hollow rolled
up
into
a small tight ball.
“ When and how did you become pos-
sessed of it?"
“I got it only just now, when I was called
in here. Before that I could not move.
was tied to my chair, practically, and ordered
strictly not to move.”
“ Perfectly. Monsieur's conduct has been
admirable. And now tell us
And now tell us what does
it contain ? Have you looked at it?”
By no means. It is just as I picked it
up. Will you gentlemen take it, and if you
think fit, tell me what is there? Some
writing - a message of some sort, or I am
greatly mistaken.”
“ Yes, here are words written in pencil,”
said the detective, unrolling the paper, which
he handed on to the Judge, who read the
contents aloud -
“Be careful. Say nothing. If you betray
me, you will be lost too."


CHAPTER XIII
up and
THE examination was now over, and, the
dispositions having been drawn
signed, the investigating officials remained
for some time in conference.
“ It lies with those three, of course the
two women and the Italian. They are
jointly, conjointly concerned, although the
exact degrees of guilt cannot quite be appor-
tioned,” said the detective.
“And all three are at large !” added the
Judge.
“If you will issue warrants for arrest,
M. le Juge, we can take them two of
them at any rate — when we choose."
“That should be at once,” remarked the
Commissary, eager, as usual, for decisive
action.
“Very well. Let us proceed in that way.
140


THE ROME EXPRESS
141
Prepare the warrants,” said the Judge,
turning to his clerk. “And you,” he went
on, addressing M. Flocon, “dear colleague,
will you see to their execution ? Madame
is at the Hôtel Madagascar; that will be
easy. The Italian Ripaldi we shall hear
of through your inspector Block. As for
the maid, Hortense Petitpré, we must search
for her. That too, sir, you will of course
undertake?”
“I will charge myself with it, certainly.
My man should be here by now, and I will
instruct him at once. Ask for him,” said
M. Floçon to the guard whom he called in.
“The inspector is there,” said the guard,
pointing to the outer room.
“He has just
returned.”
“ Returned? You mean arrived."
“No, monsieur, returned. It is Block,
who left an hour or more ago.
“ Block? Then something has happened
- he has some special information, some
great news! Shall we see him, M. le Juge?”
When Block appeared, it was evident that


142
THE ROME EXPRESS
something had gone wrong with him. His
face wore a look of hot, flurried excitement,
and his manner was one of abject, cringing
self-abasement.
“What is it?" asked the little Chief,
sharply. “ You are alone. Where is your
man?”
“ Alas, monsieur ! how shall I tell you?
He has gone - disappeared! I have lost
him!”
“Impossible ! You cannot mean it! Gone,
now, just when we most want him? Never!”
“It is so, unhappily."
“Idiot! Triple idiot! You shall be dis-
missed, discharged from this hour. You are
a disgrace to the force.”
M. Flocon raved furiously at his abashed
subordinate, blaming him a little too harshly
and unfairly, forgetting that until quite
recently there had been no strong suspicion
against the Italian. We are apt at times
to expect others to be intuitively possessed
of knowledge that has only come to us at a
much later date.


THE ROME EXPRESS
143
“How was it? Explain. Of course you
have been drinking. It is that, or your
great gluttony. You were beguiled into some
eating-house.”
“Monsieur, you shall hear the exact truth.
When we started more than an hour ago, our
fiacre took the usual route, by the Quais and
along the riverside. My gentleman made
himself most pleasant --"
“No doubt,” growled the Chief.
“ Offered me
an excellent cigar, and
talked -- not about the affair, you under-
stand - but of Paris, the theatres, the races,
Longchamps, Auteuil, the grand restaurants.
He knew everything, all Paris, like his pocket.
I was much surprised, but he told me his
business often brought him here. He had
been employed to follow up several great
Italian criminals, and had made a number
of important arrests in Paris."
“ Get on, get on! come to the essential.”
“Well, in the middle of the journey, when
we were about the Pont Henri Quatre, he
said, 'Figure to yourself, my friend, that it


144
THE ROME EXPRESS
ܦ
܀
is now near noon, that nothing has passed
my lips since before daylight at Laroche.
What say you? Could you eat a mouthful,
just a scrap on the thumb-nail? Could you?""
“And you — greedy, gormandizing beast !
- you agreed?"
“My faith, monsieur, I too was hungry.
It was my regular hour. Well--at any rate,
for my sins I accepted. We entered the first
restaurant, that of the 'Reunited Friends,'
you know it, perhaps, monsieur? A good
house, especially noted for tripe à la mode
de Caen.” In spite of his anguish, Block
smacked his fat lips at the thought of this
most succulent but very greasy dish.
“How often must I tell you to get on?”
“Forgive me, monsieur, but it is all part
of my story. We had oysters, two dozen
Marennes, and a glass or two of Chablis;
then a good portion of tripe, and with them
a bottle, only one, monsieur, of Pontet Canet;
after that a beefsteak with potatoes and a
little Burgundy, then a rum omelet.”
“Great Heavens! you should be the fat


THE ROME EXPRESS
145
man in a fair, not an agent of the Detective
Bureau.”
“It was all this that helped me to my
destruction. He ate, this devilish Italian,
like three, and I too, I was so hungry,
forgive me, sir, — I did my share. But by
the time we reached the cheese, a fine, ripe
Camembert, had our coffee, and one thimble-
ful of green Chartreuse, I was plein jusqu'au
bec, gorged up to the beak.”
“ And what of your duty, your service,
pray?"
“I did think of it, monsieur, but then,
he, the Italian, was just the same as myself.
He was a colleague. I had no fear of him,
not till the very last, when he played me
this evil turn. I suspected nothing when he
brought out his pocketbook, – it was stuffed
full, monsieur; I saw that and my confidence
increased, - called for the reckoning, and
paid with an Italian bank-note. The waiter
looked doubtful at the foreign money, and
went out to consult the manager. A minute
after, my man got up, saying:


146 THE ROME EXPRESS
»
“There may be some trouble about
changing that bank-note. Excuse me one
moment, pray.' He went out, monsieur,
and piff-paff, he was no more to be seen.”
“Ah, nigaud (ass), you are too foolish to
live! Why did you not follow him? Why
let him out of your sight?”
“ But, monsieur, I was not to know, was
I? I was to accompany him, not to watch
him. I have done wrong, I confess. But
then, who was to tell he meant to run away?
M. Flocon could not deny the justice of
this defence. It was only now, at the eleventh
hour, that the Italian had become inculpated,
and the question of his possible anxiety to
escape had never been considered.
" He was so artful,” went on Block in
further extenuation of his offence.
left everything behind. His overcoat, stick,
this book — his own private memorandum-
book seemingly —
“ Book? Hand it me," said the Chief, and
when it came into his hands he began to
turn over the leaves hurriedly.
" He


THE ROME EXPRESS
147
It was a small brass-bound note-book or
diary, and was full of close writing in pencil.
“I do not understand, not more than a
word here and there. It is no doubt Italian.
Do you know that language, M. le Juge?"
“Not perfectly, but I can read it. Allow
me."
He also turned over the pages, pausing to
read a passage here and there, and nodding
his head from time to time, evidently struck
with the importance of the matter recorded.
Meanwhile, M. Flocon continued an angry
conversation with his offending subordinate.
“ You will have to find him, Block, and
that speedily, within twenty-four hours, –
to-day, indeed, - - or I will break you like a
stick, and send you into the gutter. Of
course, such a consummate ass as you have
proved yourself would not think of searching
the restaurant or the immediate neighbour-
hood, or of making inquiries as to whether
he had been seen, or as to which way he had
gone?”
“Pardon me, monsieur is too hard on me.


148
THE ROME EXPRESS
I have been unfortunate, a victim to cir-
cumstances, still I believe I know my duty.
Yes, I made inquiries, and, what is more,
I heard of him."
“Where? how?” asked the Chief, gruffly,
but obviously much interested.
He never spoke to the manager, but
walked out and let the change go. It was
a note for a hundred lire, a hundred francs,
and the restaurant bill was no more than
seventeen francs."
“Hah! that is greatly against him in-
deed."
He was much pressed, in a great hurry.
Directly he crossed the threshold he called
the first cab and was driving away, but he
was stopped —”
“ The devil! Why did they not keep him,
then?
"Stopped, but only for a moment, and
accosted by a woman.”
“A woman?"
Yes, monsieur. They exchanged but
three words. He wished to pass on, to leave -


THE ROME EXPRESS
149
her, she would not consent, then they both
got into the cab and were driven away to-
gether.”
The officials were now listening with all
ears.
“ Tell me," said the Chief, “ quick, this
woman — what was she like? Did you get
her description ?”
“ Tall, slight, well formed, dressed all in
black. Her face -- it was a policeman who
saw her, and he said she was good-looking,
dark, brunette, black hair."
“ It is the maid herself !” cried the little
Chief, springing up and slapping his thigh
in exuberant glee. “ The maid! the missing
maid !?


CHAPTER XIV
THE joy of the Chief of Detectives at
having thus come, as he supposed, upon the
track of the missing maid, Hortense Petitpré,
was somewhat dashed by the doubts freely
expressed by the Judge as to the result of
any search. Since Block's return, M. Beau-
mont le Hardi had developed strong symp-
toms of discontent and disapproval at his
colleague's proceedings.
“But if it was this Hortense Petitpré how
did she get there, by the bridge Henri Quatre,
when we thought to find her somewhere down
the line? It cannot be the same woman."
“I beg your pardon, gentlemen," inter-
posed Block. “May I say one word? I
believe I can supply some interesting informa-
tion about Hortense Petitpré. I understand
7
150


THE ROME EXPRESS
151
that some one like her was seen here in the
station not more than an hour ago.”
Peste! Why were we not told this
sooner?” cried the Chief, impetuously.
“Who saw her? Did he speak to her?
Call him in; let us see how much he knows."
The man was summoned, one of the sub-
ordinate railway officials, who made a specific
report.
Yes, he had seen a tall, slight, neat-looking
woman, dressed entirely in black, who,
according to her account, had arrived at
10.30 by the slow local train from Dijon.
“ Fichtre!” said the Chief, angrily; "and
this is the first we have heard of it."
“Monsieur was much occupied at the
time, and, indeed, then we had not heard of
your inquiry.”
“I notified the station-master quite early,
two or three hours since, about 9 A. M. This
is most exasperating!”
“ Instructions to look out for this woman
have only just reached us, monsieur. There
were certain formalities, I suppose.'


152 THE ROME EXPRESS
" Who
For once the detective cursed in his heart
the red-tape, roundabout ways of French
officialism.
“Well, well! Tell me about her,” he said,
with a resignation he did not feel.
saw her?"
“I, monsieur. I spoke to her myself.
She was on the outside of the station, alone,
unprotected, in a state of agitation and alarm.
I went up and offered my services. Then
she told me she had come from Dijon, that
friends who were to have met her had not
appeared. I suggested that I should put her
into a cab and send her to her destination.
But she was afraid of losing her friends, and
preferred to wait.”
“A fine story! Did she appear to know
what had happened? Had she heard of the
murder?"
“Something, monsieur.”
“Who could have told her? Did you?”
'No, not I. But she knew."
“Was not that in itself suspicious ? The
fact has not yet been made public."


154
THE ROME EXPRESS
for her friends. Now she was in quite a
hurry to go.”
“Of course! and left you like a fool
planted there. I suppose she took a cab
and followed the others, Block here and his
companion.”
“I believe she did. I saw her cab close
behind theirs."
It is too late to lament this now," said
the Chief, after a short pause, looking at
his colleagues.
" At least it confirms our
ideas, and brings us to certain definite con-
clusions. We must lay hands on these two.
Their guilt is all but established. Their own
acts condemn them. They must be arrested
without a moment's delay.'
“If you can find them !” suggested the
Judge, with a very perceptible sneer.
“That we shall certainly do. Trust to
Block, who is very nearly concerned. His
future depends on his success. You quite
understand that, my man?”
Block made a gesture half-deprecating,
half-confident.


156 THE ROME EXPRESS
replied the Judge, harshly. “On the con-
trary, I consider that we — or more exactly
you, for neither I nor M. Garraud accept
any share in it
you have so far failed, and
miserably."
“Your pardon, M. le Juge, you are too
severe,” protested M. Floçon, quite humbly.
Well! Look at it from all points of
view. What have we got? What have we
gained ? Nothing, or, if anything, it is of the
smallest, and it is already jeopardized, if not
absolutely lost.”
“We have at least gained the positive
assurance of the guilt of certain individ-
uals.”
“Whom you have allowed to slip through
your fingers.”
Ah, not so, M. le Juge! We have one
under surveillance. My man Galipaud is
there at the hotel watching the Countess.”
“ Do not talk to me of your men, M.
Flocon,” angrily interposed the Judge. “One
of them has given us a touch of his quality.
Why should not the other be equally foolish?


THE ROME EXPRESS
157
I quite expect to hear that the Countess also
has gone, that would be the climax!
“It shall not happen. I will take the
warrant and arrest her now, at once, my-
self,” cried M. Flocon.
“Well, that will be something, yet not
much. Yes, she is only one, and not to my
mind the most criminal. We do not know
as yet the exact responsibility of each, the
exact measure of their guilt; but I do not
myself believe that the Countess was a prime
mover, or, indeed, more than an accessory.
She was drawn into it, perhaps involved,
how or why we cannot know, but possibly
by fortuitous circumstances that put an un-
avoidable pressure upon her; a consenting
party, but under protest. That is my view
of the lady.”
M. Floçon shook his head. Prepossessions
with him were tenacious, and he had made up
his mind about the Countess's guilt.
“When you again interrogate her, M. le
Juge, by the light of your present knowledge,
I believe you will think otherwise. She will


158
THE ROME EXPRESS
confess, - you will make her, your skill is
unrivalled, - and you will then admit, M.
le Juge, that I was right in my suspicions.”
Ah, well, produce her! We shall see,”
said the Judge, somewhat mollified by M.
Flocon's fulsome flattery.
“I will bring her to your chamber of
instruction within an hour, M. le Juge,”
said the detective, very confidently.
But he was doomed to disappointment in
this as he was in other respects.


CHAPTER XV
LET us go back a little in point of time,
and follow the movements of Sir Charles
Collingham.
It was barely II A. M. when he left the
Lyons Station with his brother, the Reverend
Silas, and the military attaché, Colonel
Papillon. They paused for a moment outside
the station while the baggage was being got
together.
“See, Silas,” said the General, pointing
to the clock, “ you will have plenty of time
for the 11.50 train to Calais for London, but
you must hurry up and drive straight across
Paris to the Nord. I suppose he can go,
Jack?"
“Certainly, as he has promised to return
if called upon.”
And Mr. Collingham promptly took advan-
tage of the permission.
159


160
THE ROME EXPRESS
92
“But you, General, what are your plans?”
went on the attaché.
“I shall go to the club first, get a room,
dress, and all that. Then call at the Hôtel
Madagascar. There is a lady there, - one
of our party, in fact, - and I should like to
ask after her. She may be glad of my serv-
ices.”
“English? Is there anything we can do
for her?”
“Yes, she is an Englishwoman, but the
widow of an Italian - the Contessa di
Castagneto."
“Oh, but I know her!” said Papillon.
“I remember her in Rome two or three
years ago. A deuced pretty woman, very
much admired, but she was in deep mourn-
ing then, and went out very little. I wished
she had gone out more. There were lots of
men ready to fall at her feet.”
“You were in Rome, then, some time
back? Did you ever come across a man
there, Quadling, the banker ? "
“Of course I did. Constantly. He was


THE ROME EXPRESS
161
a good deal about - a rather free-living,
self-indulgent sort of chap. And now you
mention his name, I recollect they said he
was much smitten by this particular lady,
the Contessa di Castagneto."
“And did she encourage him?"
“Lord! how can I tell? Who shall say
how a woman's fancy falls? It might have
suited her too. They said she was not in
very good circumstances, and he was thought
to be a rich man. Of course we know better
than that now.
Why now ?"
“Haven't you heard? It was in the Figaro
yesterday, and in all the Paris papers.
Quadling's bank has gone to smash; he has
bolted with all the 'ready' he could lay
hands upon.
“He didn't get far, then !” cried Sir
Charles. “You look surprised, Jack. Didn't
they tell you? This Quadling was the
man murdered in the sleeping-car. It was
no doubt for the money he carried with
him.”


THE ROME EXPRESS
163
frequent visitor at her house, had never met
Quadling there.
What did it all mean? And yet, what,
after all, did it matter to him?
A good deal really more than he chose
to admit to himself, even now, when closely
questioning his secret heart. The fact was,
the Countess had made a very strong im-
pression on him from the first. He had
admired her greatly during the past winter
at Rome, but then it was only a passing
fancy, as he thought, — the pleasant platonic
flirtation of a middle-aged man, who never
expected to inspire or feel a great love. Onily
now, when he had shared a serious trouble
with her, had passed through common diffi-
culties and dangers, he was finding what
accident may do - how it may fan a first
liking into a stronger flame. It was absurd,
of course. He was fifty-one, he had weathered
many trifling affairs of the heart, and here
he was, bowled over at last, and by a woman
he was not certain was entitled to his re-
spect.


164 THE ROME EXPRESS
What was he to do?
The answer came at once and unhesitat-
ingly, as it would to any other honest, chiv-
alrous gentleman.
“By George, I'll stick to her through
thick and thin! I'll trust her whatever
happens or has happened, come what may.
Such a woman as that is above suspicion.
She must be straight. I should be a beast
and a blackguard double distilled to think
anything else. I am sure she can put all
right with a word, can explain everything
when she chooses. I will wait till she
does.”
Thus fortified and decided, Sir Charles
took his way to the Hôtel Madagascar about
noon. At the desk he inquired for the
Countess, and begged that his card might
be sent up to her. The man looked at it,
then at the visitor, as he stood there waiting
rather impatiently, then again at the card.
At last he walked out and across the inner
courtyard of the hotel to the office. Presently
the manager came back, bowing low, and,


THE ROME EXPRESS
165
holding the card in his hand, began a des-
ultory conversation.
“Yes, yes,” cried the General, angrily
cutting short all references to the weather
and the number of English visitors in Paris.
“But be so good as to let Madame la Com-
tesse know that I have called.”
“ Ah, to be sure! I came to tell Monsieur
le Général that madame will hardly be able
to see him. She is indisposed, I believe.
At any rate, she does not receive to-day.”
“ As to that, we shall see. I will take no
answer except direct from her. Take or
send up my card without further delay. I
insist! Do you hear?” said the General,
so fiercely that the manager turned tail and
fled up-stairs.
Perhaps he yielded his ground the more
readily that he saw over the General's
shoulder the figure of Galipaud the detective
looming in the archway. It had been ar-
ranged that, as it was not advisable to have
the inspector hanging about the courtyard
of the hotel, the clerk or the manager should


166
THE ROME EXPRESS
keep watch over the Countess and detain any
visitors who might call upon her. Galipaud
had taken post at a wine-shop over the way,
and was to be summoned whenever his
presence was thought necessary.
There he was now, standing just behind
the General, and for the present unseen by
him.
But then a telegraph messenger came in
and up to the desk. He held the usual blue
envelope in his hand, and called out the name
on the address:
Castagneto. Contessa Castagneto."
At sound of which the General turned
sharply, to find Galipaud advancing and
stretching out his hand to take the message.
“Pardon me,” cried Sir Charles, promptly
interposing and understanding the situation
at a glance. “I am just going up to see that
lady. Give me the telegram.
Galipaud would have disputed the point,
when the General, who had already recog-
nized him, said quietly:
“I no, Inspector, you have no earthly


THE ROME EXPRESS
167
right to it. I guess why you are here, but
you are not entitled to interfere with private
correspondence. Stand back;” and seeing
the detective hesitate, he added peremp-
torily:
“Enough of this. I order you to get out
of the way. And be quick about it!”
The manager now returned, and admitted
that Madame la Comtesse would receive her
visitor. A few seconds more, and the General
was admitted into her presence.
“How truly kind of you to call !” she
said at once, coming up to him with both
hands outstretched and frank gladness in
her eyes.
Yes, she was very attractive in her plain,
dark travelling dress draping her tall, graceful
figure; her beautiful, pale face was enhanced
by the rich tones of her dark brown, wavy
hair, while just a narrow band of white muslin
at her wrists and neck set off the dazzling
clearness of her skin.
“Of course I came. I thought you might
want me, or might like to know the latest


THE ROME EXPRESS
169
station told me they thought it was Mr.
Quadling."
“But you knew him ? "
Certainly. They were my bankers, much
to my sorrow. I shall lose heavily by their
failure.”
“ That also has reached you, then?”
interrupted the General, hastily and some-
what uneasily.
To be sure. The man told me of it him-
self. Indeed, he came to me the very day
I was leaving Rome, and made me an offer -
a most obliging offer."
« To share his fallen fortunes ? "
“ Sir Charles Collingham! How can you?
That creature!” The contempt in her tone
was immeasurable.
“I had heard-well, some one said that"
“Speak out, General; I shall not be
offended. I know what you mean. It is
perfectly true that the man once presumed
to pester me with his attentions. But I would
as soon have looked at a courier or a cook.
And now
"


THE ROME EXPRESS
171
sudden outburst, half-grief, half-dread. “I
cannot tell you -I am obliged to - I
-I"
Then do not say another word,” he
said, promptly.
“There are other things. But my lips
are sealed — at least for the present. You
do not — will not think any worse of me?"
She laid her hand gently on his arm, and
his closed over it with such evident good-
will that a blush crimsoned her cheek. It
still hung there, and deepened when he said,
warmly:
“ As if anything could make me do that!
Don't you know — you may not, but let me
assure you, Countess — that nothing could
happen to shake me in the high opinion I
have of you. Come what may, I shall trust
you, believe in you, think well of you -
always."
“How sweet of you to say that! and now,
of all times,” she murmured quite softly,
and looking up for the first time, shyly, to
meet his eyes.


172
THE ROME EXPRESS
Her hand was still on his arm, covered by
his, and she nestled so close to him that it
was easy, natural, indeed, for him to slip
his other arm around her waist and draw
her to him.
“And now -- of all times - may I say one
word more?” he whispered in her ear.
“Will you give me the right to shelter and
protect you, to stand by you, share your
troubles, or keep them from you — ?”
“N
No, no, no, indeed, not now!” She
looked up appealingly, the tears brimming
up in her bright eyes. “I cannot, will not
accept this sacrifice. You are only speaking
out of your true-hearted chivalry. You must
not join yourself to me, you must not involve
yourself
He stopped her protests by the oldest and
most effectual method known in such cases.
That first sweet kiss sealed the compact so
quickly entered into between them.
And after that she surrendered at dis-
cretion. There was no more hesitation or
reluctance; she accepted his love as he had


CHAPTER XVI
THEY sat there, these two, hand locked in
hand, saying little, satisfied now to be with
each other and their new-found love. The
time flew by far too fast, till at last Sir Charles,
with a half-laugh, suggested:
“Do you know, dearest Countess - "
She corrected him in a soft, low voice.
“My name is Sabine - Charles.”
Sabine, darling. It is very prosaic of
me, perhaps, but do you know that I am
nearly starved? I came on here at once. I
have had no breakfast."
“Nor have I,” she answered, smiling.
“I was thinking of it when -
appeared like a whirlwind, and since then,
events have moved so fast."
Are you sorry, Sabine?
rather go back to - to - before?” She
when you
Would you
174


THE ROME EXPRESS
175
made a pretty gesture of closing his traitor
lips with her small hand.
“Not for worlds. But you soldiers -
you are terrible men! Who can resist you?”
“Bah! It is you who are irresistible.
But there, why not put on your jacket and
let us go out to lunch somewhere - Durand's,
Voisin's, the Café de le Paix? Which do
you prefer?”
“I suppose they will not try to stop us?”
“Who should try?” he asked.
“The people of the hotel — the police —
I cannot exactly say whom; but I dread
something of the sort. I don't quite under-
stand that manager. He has been up to see
me several times, and he spoke rather oddly,
rather rudely."
" Then he shall answer for it,” snorted
Sir Charles, hotly. “It is the fault of that
brute of a detective, I suppose. Still they
would hardly dare — "
" A detective? What? Here? Are you
sure?"
Perfectly sure. It is one of those from


178
THE ROME EXPRESS
Yes, yes; this man was there with the
rest of us. A dark man, who sat near the
door — "
“Ah, to be sure. But what — what in
Heaven's name has he to do with you? How
does he dare to send you such an impudent
message as this? Surely, Sabine, you will
tell me? You will admit that I have a right
to ask?"
Yes, of course. I will tell you, Charles,
everything; but not here — not now. It
must be on the way.
I have been very
wrong, very foolish — but oh, come, come,
do let us be going. I am so afraid he
might — "
“Then I may go with you? You do not
object to that?”
“I much prefer it — much.
much. Do let us
make haste!'
She snatched up her sealskin jacket, and
held it to him prettily, that he might help
her into it, which he did neatly and cleverly,
smoothing her great puffed-out sleeves under
each shoulder of the coat, still talking eagerly


182
THE ROME EXPRESS
present, certainly the Countess and Sir
Charles, immediately recognized.
“No, no, no — don't let them keep me - I
cannot wait now," she whispered in earnest,
urgent appeal. It was not lost on her loyal
and devoted friend.
“ Go on!” he shouted to the cabman,
with all the peremptory insistence of one
trained to give words of command. “For-
ward! As fast as you can drive. I'll pay
you double fare. Tell him where to go,
Sabine. I'll follow -- in less than no time."
The fiacre rattled off at top speed, and
the General turned to confront M. Flocon.
The little detective was white to the lips
with rage and disappointment; but he also
was a man of promptitude, and before falling
foul of this pestilent Englishman, who had
again marred his plans, he shouted to
Galipaud
Quick! After them! Follow her wher-
ever she goes. Take this," – he thrust a
paper into his subordinate's hand. ' It is
a warrant for her arrest. Seize her wherever


184
THE ROME EXPRESS
common rapscallion taken in the act who
resists the authority of an officer.”
“Oho, you talk very big, sir. Perhaps
you will be so obliging as to tell me what I
have done."
“ You have connived at the escape of a
criminal from justice
“ That lady? Psha!”
“She is charged with a heinous crime -
that in which you yourself were implicated
- the murder of that man on the train."
“Bah! You must be a stupid goose, to
hint at such a thing! A lady of birth, breed-
ing, the highest respectability — impossible ! ”
“ All that has not prevented her from
allying herself with base, common wretches.
I do not say she struck the blow, but I be-
lieve she inspired, concerted, approved it,
leaving her confederates to do the actual
deed."
“ Confederates?"
“The man Ripaldi, your Italian fellow
traveller; her maid, Hortense Petitpré, who
was missing this morning.'


194
THE ROME EXPRESS
Police, he found to his satisfaction that
Colonel Papillon was also there, and at M.
Flocon's side sat the instructing judge, M.
Beaumont le Hardi, who, after waiting
politely until the two Englishmen had ex-
changed greetings, was the first to speak,
and in apology
“You will, I trust, pardon us, M. le
Général, for having detained you here and
so long. But there were, as we thought,
good and sufficient reasons. If those have
now lost some of their cogency, we still
stand by our action as having been justifi-
able in the execution of our duty. We are
now willing to let you go free, because —
because"
“We have caught the person, the lady
you helped to escape," blurted out the
detective, unable to resist making the point.
“ The Countess? Is she here, in custody?
Never ! "
“ Undoubtedly she is in custody, and in
very close custody too,” went on M. Floçon,
gleefully. “Au secret, if you know what


THE ROME EXPRESS
195
that means — in a cell separate and apart,
where no one is permitted to see or speak
to her.”
"Surely not that? Jack — Papillon — this
must not be. I beg of you, implore, insist,
that you will get his lordship to interpose.”
But, sir, how can I? You must not ask
impossibilities. The Contessa Castagneto
is really an Italian subject now.”
She is English by birth, and whether
or no, she is a woman, a high-bred lady;
and it is abominable, unheard-of, to subject
her to such monstrous treatment,” said the
General.
“But these gentlemen declare that they
are fully warranted, that she has put herself
in the wrong-greatly, culpably in the wrong."
“I don't believe it !” cried the General,
indignantly. “Not from these chaps, a pack
of idiots, always on the wrong tack! I don't
believe a word, not if they swear.'
“But they have documentary evidence –
papers of the most damaging kind against
her."


196
THE ROME EXPRESS
“Where? How?"
“He - M. le Juge — has been showing
me a note-book;” and the General's eyes,
following Jack Papillon's, were directed to
a small carnet, or memorandum-book, which
the Judge, interpreting the glance, was
tapping significantly with his finger.
Then the Judge said blandly, “ It is easy
to perceive that you protest, M. le Général,
against that lady's arrest. Is it so? Well,
we are not called upon to justify it to you,
not in the very least. But we are dealing
with a brave man, a gentleman, an officer of
high rank and consideration, and you shall
know things that we are not bound to tell,
to you or to any one.”
“First,” he continued, holding up the
note-book,“ do you know what this is?
Have you ever seen it before?”
“I am dimly conscious of the fact, and
yet I cannot say when or where."
“ It is the property of one of your fellow
travellers -- an Italian called Ripaldi.”
“Ripaldi ?” said the General, remem-


THE ROME EXPRESS
197
bering with some uneasiness that he had seen
the name at the bottom of the Countess's
telegram. “Ah! now I understand.”
“ You had heard of it, then? In what
connection ?” asked the Judge, a little care-
lessly, but it was a suddenly planned pitfall.
"I now understand,” replied the General,
perfectly on his guard, “why the note-book
was familiar to me. I had seen it in that
man's hands in the waiting-room. He was
writing in it.”
“ Indeed? A favourite occupation evi-
dently. He was fond of confiding in that
note-book, and committed to it much that
he never expected would see the light —
his movements, intentions, ideas, even his
inmost thoughts. The book — which he no
doubt lost inadvertently — is very incrimi-
nating to himself and his friends."
“ What do you imply?" hastily inquired
Sir Charles.
Simply that it is on that which is written
here that we base one part, perhaps the
strongest, of our case against the Countess.


198
THE ROME EXPRESS
It is strangely but convincingly corroborative
of our suspicions against her.”
“May I look at it for myself? ” went on
the General in a tone of contemptuous
disbelief.
“It is in Italian. Perhaps you can read
that language? If not, I have translated the
most important passages,” said the Judge,
offering some other papers.
“ Thank you; if you will permit me, I
should prefer to look at the original;” and
the General, without more ado, stretched
out his hand and took the note-book.
What he read there, as he quickly scanned
its pages, shall be told in the next chapter.
It will be seen that there were things written
that looked very damaging to his dear friend,
Sabine Castagneto.


CHAPTER XVIII
RIPALDI's diary — its ownership plainly
shown by the record of his name in full,
Natale Ripaldi, inside the cover - was a
commonplace note-book bound in shabby
drab cloth, its edges and corners strength-
ened with some sort of white metal. The
pages were of coarse paper, lined blue and
red, and they were dog-eared and smirched
as though they had been constantly turned
over and used.
The earlier entries were little more than
a record of work to do or done.
Jan. II. To call at Café di Roma, 12.30.
Beppo will meet me.
Jan. 13. Traced M. L. Last employed
as a model at S.'s studio, Palazzo B.
“ Jan. 15. There is trouble brewing at the
Circulo Bonafede; Louvain, Malatesta, and
199


202
THE ROME EXPRESS
she must know him; then why — ? There
is something between them, and the maid
is in it.
What shall I do? I could spoil any
game of theirs if I stepped in. What are
they after? His money, no doubt.
“So am I; I have the best right to it,
for I can do most for him. He is absolutely
in my power, and he'll see that — he's no
fool — directly he knows who I am, and
why I'm here. It will be worth his while to
buy me off, if I'm ready to sell myself, and
my duty, and the Prefettura -- and why
shouldn't I? What better can I do? Shall
I ever have such a chance again? Twenty,
thirty, forty thousand lire, more, even, at
one stroke; why, it's a fortune! I could go
to the Republic, to America, North or South,
send for Mariuccia - no, cospetto! I will
continue free! I will spend the money on
myself, as I alone will have earned it, and at
such risk.
“I have worked it out thus:
“I will go to him at the very last, just


THE ROME EXPRESS
203
before we are reaching Paris. Tell him,
threaten him with arrest, then give him his
chance of escape. No fear that he won't
accept it; he must, whatever he may have
settled with the others. Altro! I snap my
fingers at them. He has most to fear from
me.”
The next entries were made after some
interval, a long interval, - no doubt, after
the terrible deed had been done, — and the
words were traced with trembling fingers,
so that the writing was most irregular and
scarcely legible.
“Ugh! I am still trembling with horror
and fear. I cannot get it out of my mind;
I never shall. Why, what tempted me?
How could I bring myself to do it?
“ But for these two women — they are
fiends, furies - it would never have been
necessary. Now one of them has escaped,
and the other -- she is here, so cold blooded,
so self-possessed and quiet — who would
have thought it of her? That she, a lady of
rank and high breeding, gentle, delicate,


THE ROME EXPRESS
205
Now followed what the police deemed
such damaging evidence.
“ Countess. Remember. Silence - ab
'
solute silence. Not a word as to who I am,
or what is common knowledge to us both.
It is done. That cannot be undone. Be
brave, resolute; admit nothing. Stick to it
that you know nothing, heard nothing. Deny
that you knew him, or me. Swear you slept
soundly the night through, make some
excuse, say you were drugged, anything, only
be on your guard, and say nothing about me.
I warn you. Leave me alone. Or
Or - but
your interests are my interests; we must
stand or fall together. Afterwards I will
meet you - I must meet you somewhere.
If we miss at the station front, write to me
Poste Restante, Grand Hôtel, and give me
an address. This is imperative. Once more,
silence and discretion.”
This ended the writing in the note-book,
and the whole perusal occupied Sir Charles
from fifteen to twenty minutes, during
which the French officials watched his face


206
THE ROME EXPRESS
closely, and his friend Colonel Papillon
anxiously.
But the General's mask was impene-
trable, and at the end of his reading he
turned back to read and re-read many pages,
holding the book to the light, and seeming to
examine the contents very curiously.
“Well ? ” said the Judge at last, when he
met the General's eye.
“Do you lay great store by this evidence?"
asked the General in a calm, dispassionate
voice.
“ Is it not natural that we should? Is it
not strongly, conclusively incriminating?"
“It would be so, of course, if it were to
be depended upon. But as to that I have
my doubts, and grave doubts.”
“Bah!” interposed the detective; "that
is mere conjecture, mere assertion. Why
should not the book be believed ? It is
perfectly genuine
Wait, sir,” said the General, raising his
hand.
“Have you not noticed — surely it
cannot have escaped so astute a police


THE ROME EXPRESS
207
functionary — that the entries are not all in
the same handwriting?"
“What! Oh, that is too absurd ! ” cried
both the officials in a breath.
They saw at once that if this discovery
were admitted to be an absolute fact, the
whole drift of their conclusions must be
changed.
“Examine the book for yourselves. To
my mind it is perfectly clear and beyond
all question,” insisted Sir Charles. “I am
quite positive that the last pages were written
by a different hand from the first.”


THE ROME EXPRESS
2 II
“But if that was not Ripaldi, who was
it? Who would wish to masquerade in his
dress and character, to make entries of that
sort, as if under his hand ? "
“Some one determined to divert suspicion
from himself to others - "
“But stay — does he not plainly confess
his own guilt?"
“What matter if he is not Ripaldi?
Directly the inquiry was over, he could steal
away and resume his own personality -- that
of a man supposed to be dead, and therefore
safe from all interference and future pursuit.'
“ You mean
Upon my word, I com-
pliment you, M. le Général. It is really
ingenious! remarkable, indeed! superb!”
cried the Judge, and only professional jeal-
ousy prevented M. Flocon from conceding
the same praise.
“But how – what-I do not under-
stand," asked Colonel Papillon in amaze-
ment. His wits did not travel quite so fast
as those of his companions.
“Simply this, my dear Jack,” explained


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the General: “Ripaldi must have tried to
blackmail Quadling, as he proposed, and
Quadling turned the tables on him. They
fought, no doubt, and Quadling killed him,
possibly in self-defence. He would have
said so, but in his peculiar position as an
absconding defaulter he did not dare. That
is how I read it, and I believe that now these
gentlemen are disposed to agree with me.”
“In theory, certainly,” said the Judge,
heartily. “But oh! for some more positive
proof of this change of character! If we
could only identify the corpse, prove clearly
that it is not Quadling. And still more, if
we had not let this so-called Ripaldi slip
through our fingers! You will never find
him, M. Flocon, never.”
The detective hung his head in guilty
admission of this reproach.
“We may help you in both these diffi-
culties, gentlemen,” said Sir Charles, pleas-
antly. “My friend here, Colonel Papillon,
can speak as to the man Quadling. He
knew him well in Rome, a year or two ago.”


THE ROME EXPRESS
217
chance, than fear at the risk he runs. So
common is this trait, that in mysterious
murder cases the police of Paris keep a dis-
guised officer among the crowd at the Morgue,
and have thereby made many memorable
arrests.
“ This way, gentlemen, this way;" and
the keeper of the Morgue led the party
through one or two rooms into the inner and
back recesses of the buildings. It was behind
the scenes of the Morgue, and they were made
free of its most gruesome secrets as they
passed along.
The temperature had suddenly fallen far
below freezing-point, and the icy cold chilled
to the very marrow. Still worse was an all-
pervading, acrid odour of artificially sus-
pended animal decay. The cold-air process,
that latest of scientific contrivances to arrest
the waste of tissue, has now been applied
at the Morgue to preserve and keep the
bodies fresh, and allow them to be for a longer
time exposed than when running water was
the only aid. There are, moreover, many


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THE ROME EXPRESS
specially contrived refrigerating chests, in
which those still unrecognized corpses are
laid by for months, to be dragged out, if
needs be, like carcasses of meat.
“What a loathsome place !” cried Sir
Charles. “Hurry up, Jack ! let us get out
of this, in Heaven's name!”
“Where's my man?” quickly asked Colo-
nel Papillon in response to this appeal.
There, the third from the left," whis-
pered M. Floçon. “We hoped you would
recognize the corpse at once."
“That? Impossible! You do not ex-
pect it, surely? Why, the face is too much
mangled for any one to say who it is.”
“ Are there no indications, no marks or
signs, to say whether it is Quadling or not?”
asked the Judge in a greatly disappointed tone.
Absolutely nothing. And yet I am quite
satisfied it is not him. For the simple reason
that
"Yes, yes, go on."
“That Quadling in person is standing out
there among the crowd.”


CHAPTER XX
M. FLOçon was the first to realize the full
meaning of Colonel Papillon's surprising
statement.
Run, run, La Pêche! Have the outer
doors closed; let no one leave the place.”
“ Draw back, gentlemen!” he went on,
and he hustled his companions with frantic
haste out at the back of the mortuary cham-
ber. “Pray Heaven he has not seen us!
He would know us, even if we do not him.”
Then with no less haste he seized Colonel
Papillon by the arm and hurried him by
the back passages through the office into the
outer, public chamber, where the astonished
crowd stood, silent and perturbed, awaiting
explanation of their detention.
Quick, monsieur !” whispered the Chief;
point him out to me.”
219


220
THE ROME EXPRESS
The request was not unnecessary, for
when Colonel Papillon went forward, and,
putting his hand on a man's shoulder, say-
ing, “Mr. Quadling, I think,” the police
officer was scarcely able to restrain his
surprise.
The person thus challenged was very
unlike any one he had seen before that day,
Ripaldi most of all. The moustache was
gone, the clothes were entirely changed; a
pair of dark green spectacles helped the
disguise. It was strange indeed that Papillon
had known him; but at the moment of
recognition Quadling had removed his glasses,
no doubt that he might the better examine
the object of his visit to the Morgue, that
gruesome record of his own fell handiwork.
Naturally he drew back with well-feigned
indignation, muttering half - unintelligible
words in French, denying stoutly both in
voice and gesture all acquaintance with the
person who thus abruptly addressed him.
“This is not to be borne,” he cried. “Who
are you that dares


222
THE ROME EXPRESS
doubt of his identity, still less of his com-
plicity in the crime.
First among the many damning evidences
of his guilt was the missing pocketbook of
the porter of the sleeping-car. Within was
the train card and the passengers' tickets,
all the papers which the man Groote had
lost so unaccountably. They had, of course,
been stolen from his person with the obvious
intention of impeding the inquiry into the
murder. Next, in another inner pocket was
Quadling's own wallet, with his own visiting-
cards, several letters addressed to him by
name; above all, a thick sheaf of bank-notes
of all nationalities - English, French, Ital-
ian, and amounting in total value to several
thousands of pounds.
Well, do you still deny? Bah! it is
childish, useless, mere waste of breath. At
last we have penetrated the mystery. You
may as well confess. Whether or no, we
have enough to convict you by independent
testimony," said the Judge, severely. “Come,
what have you to say? ”


THE ROME EXPRESS
223
But Quadling, with pale, averted face,
stood obstinately mute. He was in the toils,
the net had closed round him, they should
have no assistance from him.
Come, speak out; it will be best. Re-
member, we have means to make you
“Will you interrogate him further, M.
Beaumont le Hardi? Here, at once?”
“No, let him be removed to the Prefecture;
it will be more convenient; to my private
office.”
Without more ado a fiacre was called, and
the prisoner was taken off under escort, M.
Flocon seated by his side, one policeman in
front, another on the box, and lodged in a
secret cell at the Quai l’Horloge.
“And you, gentlemen ?” said the Judge
to Sir Charles and Colonel Papillon. "I do
not wish to detain you further, although
there may be points you might help us to
elucidate if I might venture to still trespass
on your time?”
Sir Charles was eager to return to the
Hôtel Madagascar, and yet he felt that he


224
THE ROME EXPRESS
should best serve his dear Countess by
seeing this to the end. So he readily assented
to accompany the Judge, and Colonel Papil-
lon, who was no less curious, agreed to go
too.
“I sincerely trust,” said the Judge on the
way, “ that our people have laid hands on
that woman Petitpré. I believe that she
holds the key to the situation, that when we
hear her story we shall have a clear case
against Quadling; and — who knows? —
she may completely exonerate Madame la
Comtesse."
During the events just recorded, which
occupied a good hour, the police agents had
time to go and come from the Rue Bellechasse.
They did not return empty-handed, although
at first it seemed as if they had made a fruit-
less journey. The Hôtel Ivoire was a very
second-class place, a lodging-house, or hotel
with furnished rooms let out by the week to
lodgers with whom the proprietor had no
very close acquaintance. His clerk did all
the business, and this functionary produced


THE ROME EXPRESS
225
the register, as he is bound by law, for the
inspection of the police officers, but afforded
little information as to the day's arrivals.
“Yes, a man calling himself Dufour had
taken rooms about midday, one for himself,
one for madame who was with him, also
named Dufour - his sister, he said;'
" and
he went on at the request of the police officers
to describe them.
“Our birds," said the senior agent, briefly.
They are wanted. We belong to the
detective police.”
“All right.” Such visits were not new to
the clerk.
“But you will not find monsieur; he is
out; there hangs his key. Madame? No,
she is within. Yes, that is certain, for not
long since she rang her bell. There, it goes
again.'
He looked up at the furiously oscillating
bell, but made no move.
“ Bah! they do not pay for service; let
her come and say what she needs."
“ Exactly; and we will bring her,” said


THE ROME EXPRESS
227
“ Dufour! Rot! My name is Hortense
Petitpré; who are you? La Rousse?”
(Police.)
“At your service. Have you anything
to say to us? We have come on purpose
to take you to the Prefecture quietly, if you
will let us; or — "
“I will go quietly. I ask nothing better.
I have to lay information against a mis-
creant -- a murderer -- the vile assassin who
would have made me his accomplice — the
banker, Quadling, of Rome!”
In the fiacre Hortense Petitpré talked on
with such incessant abuse, virulent and
violent, of Quadling, that her charges were
neither precise nor intelligible.
It was not until she appeared before M.
Beaumont le Hardi, and was handled with
great dexterity by that practised examiner,
that her story took definite form.
What she had to say will be best told in
the clear, formal language of the official
disposition.
The witness inculpated stated :


228
THE ROME EXPRESS
“She was named Aglaé Hortense Petitpré,
thirty-four years of age, a Frenchwoman,
born in Paris, Rue de Vincennes No. 374.
Was engaged by the Contessa Castagneto,
November 19, 189—, in Rome, as lady's
maid, and there, at her mistress's domicile,
became acquainted with the Sieur Francis
Quadling, a banker of the Via Condotti,
Rome.
Quadling had pretensions to the hand of
the Countess, and sought, by bribes and
entreaties, to interest witness in his suit.
Witness often spoke of him in complimentary
terms to her mistress, who was not very
favourably disposed towards him.
“One afternoon (two days before the
murder) Quadling paid a lengthened visit
to the Countess. Witness did not hear what
occurred, but Quadling came out much
distressed, and again urged her to speak to
the Countess. He had heard of the approach-
ing departure of the lady from Rome, but
said nothing of his own intentions.
“ Witness was much surprised to find


THE ROME EXPRESS
229
him in the sleeping-car, but had no talk to
him till the following morning, when he
asked her to obtain an interview for him
with the Countess, and promised a large
reward. In making this offer he produced
a wallet and exhibited a very large number
of notes.
“Witness was unable to persuade the
Countess, although she returned to the sub-
ject frequently. Witness so informed Quad-
ling, who then spoke to the lady, but was
coldly received.
During the journey witness thought
much over the situation. Admitted that
the sight of Quadling's money had greatly
disturbed her, but, although pressed, would
not say when the first idea of robbing him
took possession of her. (Note by Judge —
That she had resolved to do so is, however,
perfectly clear, and the conclusion is borne
out by her acts. It was she who secured the
Countess's medicine bottle; she, beyond
doubt, who drugged the porter at Laroche.
In no other way can her presence in the


230
THE ROME EXPRESS
sleeping-car between Laroche and Paris
be accounted for — presence which she does
not deny.)
“ Witness at last reluctantly confessed
that she entered the compartment where
the murder was committed, and at a critical
moment. An affray was actually in progress
between the Italian Ripaldi and the incrim-
inated man Quadling, but the witness ar-
rived as the last fatal blow was struck by the
latter.
“She saw it struck, and saw the victim
fall lifeless on the floor.
Witness declared she was so terrified
she could at first utter no cry, nor call for
help, and before she could recover herself
the murderer threatened her with the en-
sanguined knife. She threw herself on her
knees, imploring pity, but the man Quadling
told her that she was an eye-witness, and could
take him to the guillotine, -she also must
die.
“ Witness at last prevailed on him to
spare her life, but only on condition that she


THE ROME EXPRESS
233
passementerie as that picked up in the
sleeping-car.
L'ENVOI
Quadling was in due course brought
before the Court of Assize and tried for his
life. There was no sort of doubt of his guilt,
and the jury so found, but, having regard
to certain extenuating circumstances, they
recommended him to mercy. The chief of
these was Quadling's positive assurance that
he had been first attacked by Ripaldi; he
declared that the Italian detective had in the
first instance tried to come to terms with
him, demanding 50,000 francs as his price
for allowing him to go at large; that when
Quadling distinctly refused to be black-
mailed, Ripaldi struck at him with a
knife, but that the blow failed to take
effect.
Then Quadling closed with him and took
the knife from him. It was a fierce en-
counter, and might have ended either way,
but the unexpected entrance of the woman


234
THE ROME EXPRESS
Petitpré took off Ripaldi's attention, and then
he, Quadling, maddened and reckless, stabbed
him to the heart.
It was not until after the deed was done
that Quadling realized the full measure of
his crime and its inevitable consequences.
Then, in a daring effort to extricate himself,
he intimidated the woman Petitpré, and
forced her to escape through the sleeping-
car window.
It was he who had rung the signal-bell
to stop the train and give her a chance of
leaving it. It was after the murder, too,
that he conceived the idea of personating
Ripaldi, and, having disfigured him beyond
recognition, as he hoped, he had changed
clothes and compartments.
On the strength of this confession Quad-
ling escaped the guillotine, but he was trans-
ported to New Caledonia for life.
The money taken on him was forwarded
to Rome, and was usefully employed in
reducing his liabilities to the depositors in
the bank.


THE ROME EXPRESS
235
One other word.
Some time in June the following announce-
ment appeared in all the Paris papers:
Yesterday, at the British Embassy, Gen-
eral Sir Charles Collingham, K. C. B., was
married to Sabine, Contessa di Castagneto,
widow of the Italian Count of that name.”
THE END.











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