The Rome Express | Page 9

drugged.

Any doubts were entirely removed by his picking up near the porter's
seat a small silver-topped bottle and a handkerchief, both marked with
coronet and monogram, the last of which, although the letters were
much interlaced and involved, were decipherable as S.L.L.C.
It was that of the Countess, and corresponded with the marks on her
other belongings. He put it to his nostril, and recognized at once by its
smell that it had contained tincture of laudanum, or some preparation of
that drug.
CHAPTER V
M. Floçon was an experienced detective, and he knew so well that he
ought to be on his guard against the most plausible suggestions, that he
did not like to make too much of these discoveries. Still, he was
distinctly satisfied, if not exactly exultant, and he went back towards
the station with a strong predisposition against the Contessa di
Castagneto.
Just outside the waiting-room, however, his assistant, Galipaud, met
him with news which rather dashed his hopes, and gave a new direction
to his thoughts.
The lady's maid was not to be found.
"Impossible!" cried the Chief, and then at once suspicion followed
surprise.
"I have looked, monsieur, inquired everywhere; the maid has not been
seen. She certainly is not here."
"Did she go through the barrier with the other passengers?"
"No one knows; no one remembers her; not even the conductor. But
she has gone. That is positive."
"Yet it was her duty to be here; to attend to her service. Her mistress
would certainly want her--has asked for her! Why should she run

away?"
This question presented itself as one of infinite importance, to be
pondered over seriously before he went further into the inquiry.
Did the Countess know of this disappearance?
She had asked imploringly for her maid. True, but might that not be a
blind? Women are born actresses, and at need can assume any part,
convey any impression. Might not the Countess have wished to be
dissociated from the maid, and therefore have affected complete
ignorance of her flight?
"I will try her further," said M. Floçon to himself.
But then, supposing that the maid had taken herself off of her own
accord? Why was it? Why had she done so? Because--because she was
afraid of something. If so, of what? No direct accusation could be
brought against her on the face of it. She had not been in the
sleeping-car at the time of the murder, while the Countess as certainly
was; and, according to strong presumption, in the very compartment
where the deed was done. If the maid was afraid, why was she afraid?
Only on one possible hypothesis. That she was either in collusion with
the Countess, or possessed of some guilty knowledge tending to
incriminate the Countess and probably herself. She had run away to
avoid any inconvenient questioning tending to get her mistress into
trouble, which would react probably on herself.
"We must press the Countess on this point closely; I will put it plainly
to M. le Juge," said the detective, as he entered the private room set
apart for the police authorities, where he found M. Beaumont le Hardi,
the instructing judge, and the Commissary of the Quartier
(arrondissement).
A lengthy conference followed among the officials. M. Floçon told all
he knew, all he had discovered, gave his views with all the force and
fluency of a public prosecutor, and was congratulated warmly on the

progress he had made.
"I agree with you, sir," said the instructing judge: "we must have in the
Countess first, and pursue the line indicated as regards the missing
maid."
"I will fetch her, then. Stay, what can be going on in there?" cried M.
Floçon, rising from his seat and running into the outer waiting-room,
which, to his surprise and indignation, he found in great confusion.
The guard who was on duty was struggling, in personal conflict almost,
with the English General. There was a great hubbub of voices, and the
Countess was lying back half-fainting in her chair.
"What's all this? How dare you, sir?"
This to the General, who now had the man by the throat with one hand
and with the other was preventing him from drawing his sword.
"Desist--forbear! You are opposing legal authority; desist, or I will call
in assistance and will have you secured and removed."
The little Chief's blood was up; he spoke warmly, with all the force and
dignity of an official who sees the law outraged.
"It is entirely the fault of this ruffian of yours; he has behaved most
brutally," replied Sir Charles, still holding him tight.
"Let him go, monsieur; your behaviour is inexcusable. What! you, a
military officer of the highest rank, to assault a sentinel! For shame!
This is unworthy of you!"
"He deserves to