ream. He heard the wind and
the rain, the tramp of the horses' feet and the splash of the wheels
along the miry road, but he never fully realized where he was or how he
came there. The first bell was ringing as he drove into the station, and
there was but little time to get down his luggage and secure his ticket.
He asked for a _coupe_, that he might be alone; and being known as one
of the great family at Castello, the obsequious station-master hastened
to install him at once. On opening the door, however, it was discovered
that another traveller had already deposited a great-coat and a rug in
one corner.

"Give yourself no trouble, Captain Bramleigh," said the official, in a
low voice. "I 'll just say the _coupe_ is reserved, and we 'll put him
into another compartment. Take these traps, Bob," cried he to a porter,
"and put them into a first-class."

Scarcely was the order given when two figures, moving out of the dark,
approached, and one, with a slightly foreign accent, but in admirable
English, said, "What are you doing there? I have taken that place."

"Yes," cried his friend, "this gentleman secured the _coupe_ on the
moment of his arrival."

"Very sorry, sir--extremely sorry; but the _coupe_ was
reserved--specially reserved."

"My friend has paid for that place;" said the last, speaker; "and I can
only say, if I were he, I'd not relinquish it."

"Don't bother yourself about it," whispered Jack. "Let him have his
place. I 'll take the other corner; and there's an end of it."

"If you 'll allow me, Captain Bramleigh," said the official, who
was now touched to the quick on that sore point, a question of his
department--"if you'll allow me, I think I can soon settle this matter."

"But I will not allow you, sir," said Jack, his sense of fairness
already outraged by the whole procedure. "He has as good a right to his
place as I have to mine. Many thanks for your trouble. Good-bye." And so
saying he stepped in.

The foreigner still lingered in earnest converse with his friend, and
only mounted the steps as the train began to move. "A bientot, cher
Philippe," he cried, as the door was slammed, and the next instant they
were gone.

The little incident which had preceded their departure had certainly
not conduced to any amicable disposition between them, and each, after
a sidelong glance at the other, ensconced himself more completely within
his wrappings, and gave himself up to either silence or sleep.

Som