The Argosy — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= —Xx———— —_— 36 The Night Boat from Boulogne. Calais is considerable. Janet was too much excited to feel tired, and as she waited at the station she amused herself by looking about for the courteous gentleman on board; but though she scrutinised all the fair heads, she saw nothing at all hke him. Evidently he was not going on to Paris. There was much more crowding now than before, and Frank and ais wife found that they had to share the carriage with four other sersons. Two gentlemen and two ladies. One was the regular British father, taking his daughters to Paris; the other a dark-haired, dark-whiskered, middle-aged man, who was very much wrapped up, and entered immediately after them. Janet decided that the party was uninteresting. The dark gentle- man was sitting near the window in front of Frank, whilst Janet had the seat next to her husband. Again the black bag was between them, safe and barely visible. Paris! Who does not know the pleasant sound of the word; the eager faces that look out of the train even before the big station is reached ; the gathering up of wraps and umbrellas. Three minutes before the arrival of the train the dark gentleman woke up and began making careful preparations. He opened the window and looked out knowingly, yawned, then looked out again. “ Good gracious!” he said in English, and speaking for the first time. ‘‘ There’s something on the line.” Instantly the opposite window was let down by the British father, and Frank, seeing the dark man filling up the window space, took one stride across, and thrust his head out of the opposite window. His one idea was, ‘“ If there is a collision I must save Janet.” | “Eh, eh ?” said the anxious father. ‘‘ What do you see?” “Tt is all right,” said Frank, hastily retiring; and in doing so he faced the dark man, who was sinking back into his place, whilst Janet, who had involuntarily followed her husband to the other side, laughed at the sudden collision of voices. “There was a siding close by. I suppose you did not see it,” said Frank, a little scornfully. ‘No, upon my honour [I didn’t. Very sorry to have caused a fright to the ladies, but here we are at our destination.” Now followed a general packing up, and just as the train stopped, the dark gentleman opened the carriage door and jumped out. Janet had not finished packing up her rugs, but Frank helped her with the straps. “Take your bag ; don’t mind me. Is this really Paris >—And I’m not a bit tired,” she said. “VYes,—all right. You have the ticket for the luggage. Look here, Janet. We will leave our luggage and come for it later, and I’ll just manage the officials as soon as possible, and get out of the station. I shall feel free afterwards. Come this way.” They hurried on after the crowd, but instead of going to the waiting-room, passed Gomicbooks