The Rome Express

is one morning in March, when it became known to the occupants of the s

out. Of those in the sleeping-car, seven in number, six had been seen in the restaurant, or about the platform; the seventh, a lady, had not stirred. All had re?ntered their berths to sleep or doze when

snoring loudly, stertorously, in his little bunk at the end of the car. He was roused with difficulty, and set abou

lady in 9 and 10, who had made no sign as yet; and the man w

t of his class, to get rid of his travellers as soon as possible after arrival, he

ht," but there was no a

loudly. Still meeting with no response, he o

narrow window was open, wide; and the whole of the interior of

wisted unnatural lie of the limbs, the contorted legs, the one arm drooping listl

Dead-and not fro

look at the gaping wound in the breast, at the

st foul! The victim had

partment, and to the eager questioning of all who crowded rou

there! i

peared for just a moment) had looked in where the body lay. The compartment was filled for some ten minutes or mo

erect in his bearing, with bright eyes and alert manner, who took the port

now. There may be reasons-traces-things to remove; never mind what. But get them all out

y of the passengers who had over

ncomfortable superstition prevails that every one who can be reasonably suspected o

they, and they alone, for the murdered man had been seen alive at Laroche, and the fell deed must have been done since then, w

ir Charles Collingham by name, to his brother the parson,

ical English cleric, with a rubicund face and square-cut white whiskers,

-certainly detained. Examined, cross-examined, bully-ragg

his brother, by profession a man of peace, but wit

is cigarette-case, and his match-box, lighted his cigarette, and calmly watched the smoke rising with all the coolness of an old campaigner accustomed to encounter and face the up

or, or chief of the train, or whatever yo

ravelling express, every one must stay on boar

d want to

General, rather testily. "A

one in the sleeping-car, but by whom it was impossible to say. Not by th

you know?

what? You

did

g the be

d you've come. There ha

s was only to verify the fact, and take all necessary precautions. He was a burly, brusque, peremptory person, the

a tone not to be misunderstood. "Neith

rotest and dismay, whi

lone decide. My duty is plain: to detain you, place you under surveill

e door of her compartment. She stood for a moment listening, seemingly greatly agitated, and then,

but the occupants of the sleeper-descended and passed through the barriers. The latter were again desired to keep their places, while a posse of officials came and mounted guard. Presently they were told to leave the car one by one, but to ta

any communication with each other, by word or gesture. This order was enforced by a fierce-looking guard in b

bject of peculiar suspicion. It had no great effect upon him, for, while the rest of the party were very plainly sad, and a prey to lively apprehension, the porter sat dull a

at both ends. Seals had been affixed upon the entrance doors, so that the interior might be kept inviolate until it could be visited and examin