assing through a mountainous country, for every moment we passed
over some rushing torrent or through some narrow ravine.

It was already three o'clock when my nostrils were greeted with a
pungent sickly odor of attar of roses, which seemed to be wafted along
the corridor. It emanated, I imagined, from one of the compartments
occupied by lady travellers.

Of a sudden we ran into the big station at Macon, where there was a
wait of about five minutes--for the wheels to be tested. Nobody left
or entered. All was quite still after the roaring and rocking of the
express.

As we waited the odor of roses became much more pronounced, yet I sat
at my post by the open window as though wanting fresh air, for the big
sleeping-car was very stuffy, the heating apparatus being on. At last
we moved out again, and I breathlessly waited for Duperre to hand me
something to toss out to Tracy who was ready with the three signal
lights beside the line.

The train gathered speed quickly. We had travelled two hundred and
seventy miles and now had only a little farther to go. With my eye
upon the side of the track, I sat scarce daring to breathe.

The ravine! We were crossing it! I glanced along the corridor. Nobody
came in sight.

Next instant I saw three white lights arranged in a row. But we
flashed past them!

For some reason, why, I knew not, the plot had failed!

I dared not go to the compartment of either of my companions, so after
sitting up a further half-hour I crept back to my sleeping-berth
feeling very drowsy, and turning in, slept heavily.

I was awakened by a loud hammering upon my door, and an excited voice
outside calling:

"Mr. Hargreave! Mr. Hargreave!"

I opened it in astonishment to find the gray-headed old millionaire in
his pajamas.

"I've been robbed!" he gasped. "I can't wake the conductor. He's been
drugged, I believe! What number is Mr. Rayne's compartment?"

"Number four," I answered. "But what has been taken?" I asked.

"Bonds that I was taking to my agent in Marseilles--over sixty
thousand pounds' worth! My kitbag has been opened and the dispatch-box
has been opened also while I've been asleep. The thief has evidently
had the conductor's key or he couldn't have got into my compartment!
The bonds must be still in the possession of one of the passengers,"
he added. "Our last stop was at Macon and I was awake then."

Together we woke up Rayne, who at once busied himself in great alarm.

"Possibly