hich had been taken for myself.

We travelled merrily across to Boulogne, the weather being unusually
fine, and took our _dejeuner_ together in the _wagon-restaurant_ on
the way to Paris. With old Blumenfeld was his faithful valet who
looked especially after two battered old leather kitbags, a fact
which, I noticed, did not escape Rudolph's watchful eye.

Arrived at the Gare du Nord, Lola was met by an elderly Englishwoman
whom I recollected as having been a guest at Overstow, and after
hurried farewells drove away in a car, while we took taxis across to
the big hotel at the Gare de Lyon. There we dined, and at half-past
eight joined the Marseilles express upon which was a single
_wagon-lit_.

Just as I was about to enter it, Rayne took me by the arm, and walking
along the platform out of hearing, whispered:

"Vincent is here. Don't recognize him. Be alert at three o'clock. I
may want you!"

"For what?"

"Wait! We've something big in progress, George. Don't ask any
questions," he said in that blustering impelling manner which he
assumed when he was really serious.

Several times in the corridor I met the financier and his wife with
their bony-faced valet, and, of course, I made myself polite and
engaging to Mrs. Blumenfeld.

While the express roared through its first stage to Moret, I chatted
with Rudolph and Blumenfeld after the latter's wife had retired, and
as we sat in the dim light of the corridor of the sleeping-car smoking
cigarettes, all seemed absolutely normal.

Suddenly from the end compartment of the car Duperre came forth. As a
perfect stranger he apologized in French as he passed us and walked to
the little compartment at the end of the car where he ordered a drink
from the conductor.

Hence old Mr. Blumenfeld was in ignorance that Vincent had any
knowledge of us, or that Signorina Lacava, who was another of the
passengers, was our friend. Yet the thin-faced valet who had brought
up my early cup of tea when we had stayed at Bradbourne continually
hovered about his master.

Later, as the express was tearing on at increased speed, Mr.
Blumenfeld retired to his compartment, with his wife sleeping in the
adjoining one, and within half an hour Rayne beckoned me into his
compartment at the farther end, where we were joined by Duperre.

"I want you to be out in the corridor at three o'clock," Rayne said to
me. "Open the window and sit by it as though you want fresh air. The
conductor won't troubl