第11部分(第3/7 頁)

he　man　thanked　her；　but　still　lingered。

There　was　something　odd　about　him。　Katherine；　who　had　at　first　wondered　whether　the　tip　had　not　been　big　enough；　was　now　convinced　that　something　far　more　serious　was　amiss。　His　face　was　of　a　sickly　pallor；　he　was　shaking　all　over；　and　looked　as　if　he　had　been　frightened　out　of　his　life。　He　was　eyeing　her　in　a　curious　manner。　Presently　he　said　abruptly：　〃Madame　will　excuse　me；　but　is　she　expecting　friends　to　meet　her　at　Nice？〃

〃Probably；〃　said　Katherine。　〃Why？〃

But　the　man　merely　shook　his　head　and　murmured　something　that　Katherine　could　not　catch　and　moved　away；　not　reappearing　until　the　train　came　to　rest　at　the　station；　when　he　started　handing　her　belongings　down　from　the　window。

Katherine　stood　for　a　moment　or　two　on　the　platform　rather　at　a　loss；　but　a　fair　young　man　with　an　ingenuous　face　came　up　to　her　and　said　rather　hesitatingly：

〃Miss　Grey；　is　it　not？〃

Katherine　said　that　it　was；　and　the　young　man　beamed　upon　her　seraphically　and　murmured：

〃I　am　Chubby；　you　know　…　Lady　Tamplin's　husband。　I　expect　she　mentioned　me；　but　perhaps　she　forgot。　Have　you　got　your　billet　de　bagages？　I　lost　mine　when　I　came　out　this　year；　and　you　would　not　believe　the　fuss　they　made　about　it。　Regular　French　red　tape！〃

Katherine　produced　it；　and　was　just　about　to　move　off　beside　him　when　a　very　gentle　and　insidious　voice　murmured　in　her　ear：

〃A　little　moment；　Madame；　if　you　please。〃

Katherine　turned　to　behold　an　individual　who　made　up　for　insignificance　of　stature　by　a　large　quantity　of　gold　lace　and　uniform。

The　individual　explained。　〃There　were　certain　formalities。　Madame　would　perhaps　be　so　kind　as　to　acpany　him。　The　regulations　of　the　police　…〃　He　threw　up　his　arms。　〃A