第11部分(第1/7 頁)

Katherine　found　her　own　bed　prepared　and　since　she　was　tired；　she　went　to　bed　and　switched　off　her　light　about　half…past　nine。

She　woke　with　a　sudden　start；　how　much　time　had　passed　she　did　not　know。　Glancing　at　her　watch；　she　found　that　it　had　stopped。

A　feeling　of　intense　uneasiness　pervaded　her　and　grew　stronger　moment　by　moment。　At　last　she　got　up；　threw　her　dressing…gown　round　her　shoulders；　and　stepped　out　into　the　corridor。　The　whole　train　seemed　wrapped　in　slumber。　Katherine　let　down　the　window　and　sat　by　it　for　some　minutes；　drinking　in　the　cool　night　air　and　trying　vainly　to　calm　her　uneasy　fears。　She　presently　decided　that　she　would　go　along　to　the　end　and　ask　the　conductor　for　the　right　time　so　that　she　could　set　her　watch。　She　found；　however；　that　his　little　chair　was　vacant。

She　hesitated　for　a　moment　and　then　walked　through　into　the　next　coach。　She　looked　down　the　long；　dim　line　of　the　corridor　and　saw；　to　her　surprise；　that　a　man　was　standing　with　his　hand　on　the　door　of　the　partment　occupied　by　the　lady　in　the　mink　coat。　That　is　to　say；　she　thought　it　was　the　partment。　Probably；　however；　she　was　mistaken。　He　stood　there　for　a　moment　or　two　with　his　back　to　her；　seeming　uncertain　and　hesitating　in　his　attitude。　Then　he　slowly　turned；　and　with　an　odd　feeling　of　fatality；　Katherine　recognized　him　as　the　same　man　whom　she　had　noticed　twice　before　…　once　in　the　corridor　of　the　Savoy　Hotel　and　once　in　Cook's　offices。　Then　he　opened　the　door　of　the　partment　and　passed　in；　drawing　it　to　behind　him。

An　idea　flashed　across　Katherine's　mind。　Could　this　be　the　man　of　whom　the　other　woman　had　spoken　…　the　man　she　was　journeying　to　meet。

Then　Katherine　told　herself　that　she　was　romancing。　In　all　probability　she　had　mistaken　the