The Passenger from Calais

The Passenger from Calais, by
Arthur Griffiths

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Title: The Passenger from Calais
Author: Arthur Griffiths
Release Date: July 21, 2005 [EBook #16339]
Language: English
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Works of ARTHUR GRIFFITHS
* * * * *

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

The Passenger from Calais
By Arthur Griffiths
Author of "The Rome Express," etc.

Boston--L.C. Page and Company--Publishers
First Impression, January, 1906 Second Impression, February, 1906
Third Impression, February, 1906 Fourth Impression, March, 1908
Colonial Press C.H. Simonds & Co. Boston, U.S.A.

FOREWORD
I desire to state that the initial fact upon which I have founded this
story is within my own experience. I travelled from Calais to Basle by
the Engadine Express in the latter end of July, 1902, when my wife and
myself were the only passengers. The rest is pure fiction.
A.G.
CHAPTER I.
[Colonel Annesley's Story]
The crossing from Dover to Calais had been rough; a drizzling rain fell
all the time, and most of the passengers had remained below. Strange to

say, they were few enough, as I saw on landing. It was a Sunday in late
July, and there ought to have been a strong stream setting towards
Central Europe. I hardly expected to find much room in the train; not
that it mattered, for my place was booked through in the Lucerne
sleeping-car of the Engadine express.
Room! When I reached the siding where this train de luxe was drawn
up, I saw that I was not merely the first but the only passenger. Five
sleeping-cars and a dining-car attached, with the full staff, attendants,
chef, waiters--all lay there waiting for me, and me alone.
"Not very busy?" I said, with a laugh to the conductor.
"Parbleu," replied the man, polyglot and cosmopolitan, like most of his
class, but a Frenchman, or, more likely from his accent, a Swiss. "I
never saw the like before."
"I shall have a compartment to myself, then?"
"Monsieur may have the whole carriage if he wishes--the whole five
carriages. It is but to arrange." His eyes glistened at the prospect of
something special in this obvious scarcity of coming tips.
"The train will run, I hope? I am anxious to get on."
"But assuredly it will run. Even without monsieur it would run. The
carriages are wanted at the other end for the return journey. Stay, what
have we here?"
We stood talking together on the platform, and at some little distance
from the railway station, the road to which was clear and open all the
way, so that I could see a little party of four approaching us, and
distinguish them. Two ladies, an official, probably one of the guards,
and a porter laden with light luggage.
As they came up I discreetly withdrew to my own compartment, the
window of which was open, so that I could hear and see all that passed.

"Can we have places for Lucerne?" It was asked in an eager, anxious,
but very sweet voice, and in excellent French.
"Places?" echoed the conductor. "Madame can have fifty."
"What did I tell madame?" put in the official who had escorted her.
"I don't want fifty," she replied, pettishly, crossly, "only two. A
separate compartment for myself and maid; the child can come in with
us."
Now for the first time I noticed that the maid was carrying a bundle in
her arms, the nature of which was unmistakable. The way in which she
swung it to and fro rhythmically was that of a nurse and child.
"If madame prefers, the maid and infant can be accommodated apart,"
suggested the obliging conductor.
But this did not please her. "No, no, no," she answered with much
asperity. "I wish them to be with me. I have told you so already; did
you not hear?"
"Parfaitement, as madame pleases. Only, as the train is not full--very
much the reverse indeed--only one other passenger, a gentleman--no
more--"
The news affected her strangely, and in two very different ways. At
first a look of satisfaction came into her face, but it was quickly
succeeded by one of nervous apprehension, amounting to positive fear.
She turned to talk to her maid in English,