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In the Fog by Richard Harding Davis
page 40 of 75 (53%)
of our journey was drawing rapidly nearer, and her time for action was
being cut down with the speed of the express train. Even I,
unsuspicious as I was, noticed that something was very wrong with her.
I really believe that before we reached Marseilles if I had not,
through my own stupidity, given her the chance she wanted, she might
have stuck a knife in me and rolled me out on the rails. But as it
was, I only thought that the long journey had tired her. I suggested
that it was a very trying trip, and asked her if she would allow me to
offer her some of my cognac.

"She thanked me and said, 'No,' and then suddenly her eyes lighted,
and she exclaimed, 'Yes, thank you, if you will be so kind.'

"My flask was in the hand bag, and I placed it on my lap and with my
thumb slipped back the catch. As I keep my tickets and railroad guide
in the bag, I am so constantly opening it that I never bother to lock
it, and the fact that it is strapped to me has always been sufficient
protection. But I can appreciate now what a satisfaction, and what a
torment too, it must have been to that woman when she saw that the bag
opened without a key.

"While we were crossing the mountains I had felt rather chilly and had
been wearing a light racing coat. But after the lamps were lighted the
compartment became very hot and stuffy, and I found the coat
uncomfortable. So I stood up, and, after first slipping the strap of
the bag over my head, I placed the bag in the seat next me and pulled
off the racing coat. I don't blame myself for being careless; the bag
was still within reach of my hand, and nothing would have happened if
at that exact moment the train had not stopped at Arles. It was the
combination of my removing the bag and our entering the station at the
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