The Rome Express | Page 5

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."
"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 admissions. 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 companion 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 a reputation for respectability which
was greatly in their favour.
The third to appear was the tall, gray-headed Englishman, who had
taken a certain lead at the first discovery of the crime. He called
himself General Sir Charles Collingham, an officer of her Majesty's
army; and the clergyman who shared the compartment 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 detained.
"For the present, yes," replied M. Floçon, briefly. He did not care to be
asked questions. 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.
"I know Lord Dufferin personally; I was with him in India. Also
Colonel Papillon, 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 General. 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 compartment 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
moustache. He wore a long dark cloak of the 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 catastrophe."
"And how so, pray? Did you assist? Were you present? If so, why wait
to speak till now?" said the detective, receiving the advance rather
coldly. It behooved 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 receive it."
M. Floçon was so anxious to approach the inquiry without prejudice
that he put up his hand.
"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