t as the crime was committed presumably while the
train was in motion, only those in the one car could be implicated.

"We should never jump to conclusions," said the Chief snappishly. "Well,
show me the train card--the list of the travellers in the sleeper."

"It cannot be found, sir."

"Impossible! Why, it is the porter's business to deliver it at the end
of the journey to his superiors, and under the law--to us. Where is the
porter? In custody?"

"Surely, sir, but there is something wrong with him."

"So I should think! Nothing of this kind could well occur without his
knowledge. If he was doing his duty--unless, of course, he--but let us
avoid hasty conjectures."

"He has also lost the passengers' tickets, which you know he retains
till the end of the journey. After the catastrophe, however, he was
unable to lay his hand upon his pocket-book. It contained all his
papers."

"Worse and worse. There is something behind all this. Take me to him.
Stay, can I have a private room close to the other--where the prisoners,
those held on suspicion, are? It will be necessary to hold
investigations, take their depositions. M. le Juge will be here
directly."

M. Flocon was soon installed in a room actually communicating with the
waiting-room, and as a preliminary of the first importance, taking
precedence even of the examination of the sleeping-car, he ordered the
porter to be brought in to answer certain questions.

The man, Ludwig Groote, as he presently gave his name, thirty-two years
of age, born at Amsterdam, looked such a sluggish, slouching,
blear-eyed creature that M. Flocon began by a sharp rebuke.

"Now. Sharp! Are you always like this?" cried the Chief.

The porter still stared straight before him with lack-lustre eyes, and
made no immediate reply.

"Are you drunk? are you--Can it be possible?" he said, and in vague
reply to a sudden strong suspicion, he went on:

"What were you doing between Laroche and Paris? Sleeping?"

The man roused himself a little. "I think I slept. I must have slept. I
was very drowsy. I had been up two nights; but so it is always, and I am
not like this generally. I do not understand."

"Hah!" The Chief thought he understood. "Did you feel this drowsiness
before leaving Laroche?"

"No, monsieur, I did not. Certainly not. I was fresh till then--quite
fresh."

"Hum; exactly; I see;" and the little Chief jumped to his feet and ran
round to where the porter stood sheepishly,