Floçon,--"I see that you occupied the compartment _d_, with berths Nos.
9 and 10?"

"I think 9 was the number of my berth."

"It was. You may be certain of that. Now next door to your
compartment--do you know who was next door? I mean in 7 and 8?"

The Countess's lip quivered, and she was a prey to sudden emotion as she
answered in a low voice:

"It was where--where--"

"There, there, madame," said the Judge, reassuring her as he would a
little child. "You need not say. It is no doubt very distressing to you.
Yet, you know?"

She bent her head slowly, but uttered no word.

"Now this man, this poor man, had you noticed him at all? No--no--not
afterwards, of course. It would not be likely. But during the journey.
Did you speak to him, or he to you?"

"No, no--distinctly no."

"Nor see him?"

"Yes, I saw him, I believe, at Modane with the rest when we dined."

"Ah! exactly so. He dined at Modane. Was that the only occasion on which