The Argosy — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

44 The Night Boat from Boulogne. passenger who had come from the train. Of course, the others had slept at Boulogne. Jolted without pity, she looked forward to hurrying to her berth ; and when the omnibus pulled up short she stepped out at once, not caring for the rain. “Ts the boat here?” she asked, paying her fare. “Ves, madame ; will madame get out?” ‘Of course. I will go on board at once.” Janet stepped out into the rain and semi-darkness, but saw no boat. ‘There was an air of perfect solitude here which surprised her. ‘Madame wants to go on to the boat—the night service,” said the conductor, passively. “Ah!” said the coachman, still more calmly ; then calling out to another man who held a lantern, he repeated the remark : ‘“Madame wants to go on to the night boat.” ‘Impossible. No one goes on board till a quarter of an hour before starting.” ‘And when does it start? ” asked Janet, as she tried to hold her umbrella up against the driving wind and rain. “¢ At two o'clock.” “Then I must go back to the station,” she answered, feeling sick at heart and lonely, but still determined to cross, as she put her foot on the step of the old omnibus. ‘“‘Pardon, madame, but we do not return again. It is no use your getting in.” “But what am I to do? JI cannot stay here on the quay in the rain and darkness.” The man shrugged his shoulders. It was nothing to him what madame did. “It is very stormy to-night. Madame had better put off till to- morrow.” “No. I must go to-night,” she said. ‘I must go to an hotel or café ; anywhere so as to be ready to start by the night service.” ““"There’s the hotel near the railway.” Janet almost said Yes, but how could she get back? And then Ae might be there ; he might recognise her, and so give herthe slip. If — what she believed was true, that man had the diamonds either on his person or in his luggage. ‘“‘ Let me go to the nearest place; anywhere where I can sit down,” she said, determined not to give way after what she had gone through. “Here, then, André; just show this lady the way to some cafe. There can only be a few open now.” André was an old fisherman, who was overhauling some baskets, evidently part of the cargo for the night service boat. “This way, madame,” said the old man, looking down kindly on the slight figure by his side. ‘ Madame is alone ? ” EORNIELIOO KS, (eC ial