"Did any one come out of the vacant compartment?"

"No; but I was almost certain, I believe I could swear that I saw the
same skirt, just the hem of it, a black skirt, sway forward beyond the
door, just for a second. Then all at once the door was closed again
fast."

"What did you conclude from this? Or did you think nothing of it?"

"I thought very little. I supposed it was that the maid wished to be
near her mistress as we were approaching Paris, and I had heard from
the Countess that the porter had made many difficulties. But you see,
after what has happened, that there was a reason for stopping the
train."

"Quite so," M. Floçon readily admitted, with a scarcely concealed sneer.

He had quite made up his mind now that it was the Countess who had rung
the alarm-bell, in order to allow of the escape of the maid, her
confederate and accomplice.

"And you still have an impression that some one--presumably this
woman--got off the car, somehow, during the stoppage?" he asked.

"I suggest it, certainly. Whether it was or could be so, I must leave to
your superior judgment."

"What! A woman climb out like that? Bah! Tell that to some one else!"