The Rome Express

k to the waiting-room, and, motioning to the porter that he might also go, the Chief hastened

crime and overhaul it inch by inch,-seeking, searching, investigating, loo

rd. But everything, of course, gave way before the detective, and, breaking through the seals, he walked in, making

s. The former lay open at the chest, and showed the gaping wound that had, no doubt, caused death, probably instantaneous death. But other blows had been struck; there must have been a struggle, fi

some of these wounds had not bled, and the plain inference was that they had been inflicted after life had sped. M. Flo?on examined the body closely, but without disturbing

entrated interest, at the murdered man, noting all

ache was thick and drooping. The shirt was of fine linen, the drawers silk. On one finger were two good rings, the hands were clean, the nails well kept

t possessed of decent belongings. One or two pieces bore a monogram, "F.Q.," the same as on the shirt and under-linen; but on the bag was a luggage label, with the name, "Francis Quadling, p

ose collars, cuffs, a sponge and slippers, two Italian newspapers of an earlier date. No money, valua

he was struck with the fact that the window was open to its full height. Since when was this? It was a question to be put presently to

Flo?on. A long and minute inspection of this bit of lace, which he was careful not to detach as yet from the place in which he found it, showed that it was ragged, and frayed, and fast caught where it hung. It could not have

small table under the window was a short length of black jet b

some time or other in the berth. M. Flo?on could not but connect these two finds with the fact of the open window. The latter might, of course, have been the work of the murdered man himself at an earlie

cts might be found on the outside of the car. With this idea,

by the steps at each end. The Chief was short of stature, and he could only approach the window outside by calling one of the guards and ordering him to make the

the car was encrusted with the mud and dust gathered in t

s mind was in an open state, ready to receive any impressions, and as

in the theatre of the crime. The inference was fai

man had entered

e crime, she was there after the window had been

assed out, of the window at some time o

? To seek some means of e

e (if so, why run from him?), she would give up her knowledge on compulsion, if not voluntaril

eaving an express train at full speed. To escape from her own act and the consequences it mu

ce the worst peril, to look out, lean out, even try the

ncriminated one woman, the only woman possible, and that was the ti

lan which he had constructed to take the place of the missing train card, he entere

cate, well-bred woman of the world, things still left as she had used them last-rugs still unrolled, a pair of easy-slippers on the floor, the sponge in its waterproof bag on the bed, brushes, bottles, button-hook, hand-

e berth, and commenced an immediate search for

, who, if innocent, would have no reason to conceal or make away with a possibly

sing-bag, and with deft f

he absence of which he noted, but thought of little consequence

where the porter had his own small chair, his only resting-place, indeed, throughout the journey. He had not forgotten the attend

-topped bottle and a handkerchief, both marked with coronet and monogram, the last of wh

elongings. He put it to his nostril, and recognized at once by its smell th