“We did not miss you until we had almost reached the other station.  Then your Aunt Yvonne asked me where you had gone.  I told her I had not seen you, but went into the coach ahead to search.  You were not there.  Then I went on to the dining car.  Ach, you were not there.  In alarm I returned to our car.  Your aunt and I looked everywhere.  You were not anywhere.  I shall never forget your aunt’s face when she sank into a chair, nor shall I feel again so near like dying as when she suggested that you might have fallen from the train.  I sent Hedrick ahead to summon the conductor, but he had hardly left us when the engine whistled sharply and the train began to slow up in a jerky fashion.  We were very pale as we looked at each other, for something told us that the stop was unusual.  I rushed to the platform meeting Hedrick, who was as much alarmed as I. He said the train had been flagged, and that there must be something wrong.  Your aunt came out and told me that she had made a strange discovery.”

Grenfall observed that he was addressing himself exclusively to the young lady.

“She had found that the gentleman in the next section was also missing.  While we were standing there in doubt and perplexity, the train came to a standstill, and soon there was shouting on the outside.  I climbed down from the car and saw that we were at a little station.  The conductor came running toward me excitedly.

“‘Is the young lady in the car?’ he asked.

“’No.  For Heaven’s sake, what have you heard?’I cried.

“‘Then she has been left at O——­,’ he exclaimed, and used some very extraordinary American words.

“I then informed him that he should run back for you, first learning that you were alive and well.  He said he would be damned if he would—­pardon the word, ladies.  He was very angry, and said he would give orders to go ahead, but I told him I would demand restitution of his government.  He laughed in my face, and then I became shamelessly angry.  I said to him: 

“’Sir, I shall call you down—­not out, as you have said—­and I shall run you through the mill.’

“That was good American talk, sir, was it not, Mr. Lorry?  I wanted him to understand me, so I tried to use your very best language.  Some gentlemen who are traveling on this train and some very excellent ladies also joined in the demand that the train be held.  His despatch from O——­ said that you, Mr. Lorry, insisted on having it held for twenty minutes.  The conductor insulted you, sir, by saying that you had more—­ah, what is it? —­gall than any idiot he had ever seen.  When he said that, although I did not fully understand that it was a reflection on you, so ignorant am I of your language, I took occasion to tell him that you were a gentleman and a friend of mine.  He asked me your name, but, as I did not know it, I could only tell him that he would learn it soon enough.  Then he said something which has puzzled me ever since.  He told me to close my face.  What did he mean by that, Mr. Lorry?”