The Illustrious Prince

ugh the windows of the saloon the station-master could see the train attendant bending over this mysterious passenger, who did not seem, as yet, to have made any p

o the attendant came hurrying out to the platform,

If you please, sir, wi

on. The attendant clutched at his arm nervously. He was a pale, anaemic-look

ter with you?" the statio

't make him answer me. He won't look up, and I don't-I don't think he's asleep. An hour ago I

ere were perfectly wide-open, but there was something unnatural in their

" the station-master

reeping through his veins. He, too, began to stare; he felt the colo

ver have recognized as his own. "Quick! Now turn out those porter

lf was conscious of a sense of nausea, a giddiness which was almost overmastering. This was a terrible thing to fac

the station-master, who had gone for a doctor. The little crowd was completely mystified. No one had the slightest idea of what had happened. The attendant was besieged by questions, but he was sitting on the step of the car, in the shadow of a policeman, with his head buried in his hands, and he did not once look

record journey, was leaning back in the corner of his seat, his arms folded, his head drooping a little, but his eyes still fixed in

the station-

!" was the

tation-master mut

f over the dead man's face. He was st

station-master asked. "It must have bee

r a moment. He seemed to be

e you, I should have the saloon shunted on to a siding and left absolutely untouched. You

d?" the station-

s though to be sure that none of that

disease here," he explained.

horrified,-horrified

no one else on the train except the attendant-not a sing

e was a strong man, but he was not used to this sort of thing, and he had barely recovered yet from the first shock of finding himself face to face with

er have driven that knife home. I can tell you, even, how it was done. The man who stabbed him was in the compartment behind there, le

!" the station-mas

one of your men to telephone to Scotland Yard. Perhaps it would be as well, too, not to touch those papers until som

rd them. The doctor and the station-master seated themselves out of sight of their gruesome companion, and the station-master told all that he knew about the despatch of the special and the man who had ordered it. The attendant, who still moved about like a man in a dream, brought them some brandy and soda and served them with shaking hand. They all three talked together in whispers, the atten

" he announced. "I have another man outsi

raid that you will find this rather a serious affair.

me of Mr. Hamilton Fynes. In his trousers pocket was a handful of gold. He had no other personal belongings of any sort. The space between the lining of his coat and the material itself was duly noticed, but it was empty. His watch was a cheap one, his linen unmarked, and his clothes bore only the name of a great New York retail establishment. He had certainly entered the train alone, and both the guard and attendant were ready to declare positively that no person could have been concealed in it. The engine-driver, on his part, was equally ready to swear that not once from the moment when they had steamed out of Liverpool Station until they had arrived within twenty miles of London,

d green lights of the railway track. Every few minutes the goods-trains went rumbling over the metals. The man on the ground heard them with a shiver. Resolutely he kept his face turned in the opposite direction. The night mail went thundering northward, and he clutched even at the nettles which grew amongst the grass where he was crouching, as though filled with a sudden terror. Then there was silence once more-silence which became deeper as the hour approached midnight. Passers-by were fewer; the birds and animals came out from their hiding places. A rabbit scurried across the road; a rat darted down the tiny stream. Now and then birds moved in the undergrowth, and the man, who was struggling all the time with a deadly faintness, felt the silence grow more and more oppressive. He began even to wonder where he was. He closed his eyes. Was that really the tinkling of a guitar, the perfu

ur. Eagerly he thrust his hand into one of the leather pockets and drew out a flask of brandy. The rush of cold air, as the car swung round

ed to himself, and, stagg

ng room, however, was so unexpected a thing that he did not hesitate for a moment to obey it, without even waiting to complete a deal. When he entered the apartment, he saw

an accident," the doctor re

ly and with something singularly agreeable in his voice notwithstandin

r looked

doing in the

side of the road. You can see what has happened to me. I am bruised and cut; my side is painful, and also my

his bridge party. For half an hour he worked over his patient. At the end of t

id. "That's a nasty cut on your

much," the young man said. "I will smoke a cig

you are not better without it. Help yourself to the cigar

or me now, and I must not keep the man any longer. Wi

and the evidences of his patient's means were somewha

but I am glad to assure you that I am not a poor man. I am able to pay y

summoned up

then," he remarked wi

," the patient answered. "Your treatment was worth it

e glanced at the gold which his

e you will have a comfortable journey. With a nerv

iosity, watched until the great motor-car had swung round t

o himself, as he closed the door.