Ever been to Locarno before, Mr. Falfani?
Delightful lake, Maggiore.
Many excursions, especially by steamer; the Borromean islands well worth seeing, and Baveno and Stresa and the road to the Simplon."
I refused to be drawn, and only muttered that I hated excursions and steamers and lakes, and wished to be left in peace.
"A little out of sorts, I'm afraid, Mr. Falfani.
Sad that.
Too many emotions, want of sleep, perhaps.
You would do too much last night."
He still kept up his hateful babble, and Jules maddened me by his sniggering enjoyment of my discomfiture.
More than ever did I set my brain to puzzle out some way of escaping this horrible infliction.
Was it not possible to give them the slip, somehow, somewhere?
I took the Colonel's hint, and pretended to take refuge in sleep, and at last, I believe, I dozed off.
It must have been in my dreams that an idea came to me, a simple idea, easy of execution with luck and determination.
It was suggested to me by the short tunnels that succeed so frequently in the ascent of the St. Gothard Alps.
They are, as most people know, a chief feature in the mountain railway, and a marvel of engineering skill, being cut in circles to give the necessary length and gain the height with a moderate gradient.
Speed is so far slackened that it would be quite possible to drop off the train without injury whenever inclined.
My only difficulty would be to alight without interference from my persecutors.
I nursed my project with eyes shut, still feigning sleep; and my extreme quiescence had, as I hoped, the effect of throwing them off their guard.
Jules, like all in the same employment, was always ready for forty winks, and I saw that he was sound and snoring just as we entered the last tunnel before reaching the entrance of the final great tunnel at Goeschenen.
I could not be quite sure of the Colonel, but his attitude was that of a man resting, and who had very nearly lost himself, if he had not quite gone off.
Now was my time.
If it was to be done at all it must be quickly, instantaneously almost.
Fortunately we sat at the extreme end of a coach, in the last places, and besides we three there was only one other occupant in the compartment of six.
The fourth passenger was awake, but I made a bid for his good-will by touching my lips with a finger, and the next minute I was gone.
I expected to hear the alarm given at my disappearance, but none reached my ears, as the train rattled past me with its twinkling lights and noisy road.
I held myself close against the side of the tunnel in perfect safety, although the hot wind of the passing cars fanned my cheek and rather terrified me.
The moment the train was well gone I faced the glimmering light that showed the entrance to the tunnel at the further end from the station, and ran to it with all speed.
I knew that my jump from the train could not pass unnoticed, and I counted on being followed. I expected that the tunnel would be explored by people from Goeschenen so soon as the train ran in and reported.
My first object, therefore, was to quit the line, and I did so directly I was clear of the tunnel.
I climbed the fence, dropped into a road, left that again to ascend the slope and take shelter among the rocks and trees.
The pursuit, if any, was not very keen or long maintained.
When all was quiet, an hour later I made for the highroad, the famous old road that leads through the Devil's Pass to Andermatt, three miles above.
I altogether avoided the Goeschenen station, fearing any inconvenient inquiries, and abandoned all idea of getting the telegram from Tiler that might be possibly awaiting me.
It did not much matter.
I should be obliged now to send him fresh news, news of the changed plans that took me direct into Brieg; and on entering Andermatt I came upon the post-office, just where I wanted it, both to send my message and order an extra post carriage from Brieg.
It was with a sense of intense relief that I sank back into the cushions and felt that at last I was free.
My satisfaction was abruptly destroyed.
Long before I reached Hospenthal, a mile or so from Andermatt, I was disturbed by strange cries to the accompaniment of harness bells.
"Yo-icks, Yo-icks, G-o-ne away!" was borne after me with all the force of stentorian lungs, and looking round I saw to my horror a second carriage coming on at top speed, and beyond all question aiming to overtake us.
Soon they drew nearer, near enough for speech, and the accursed Colonel hailed me.
"Why, you cunning fox, so you broke cover and got away all in a moment!
Lucky you were seen leaving the train, or we might have overrun the scent and gone on."
I did not answer.
"Nice morning for a drive, Mr. Falfani, and a long drive," he went on, laughing boisterously. "Going all the way to Brieg by road, I believe?
So are we.
Pity we did not join forces.
One carriage would have done for all three of us."
Still I did not speak.
"A bit ugly, eh? Don't fuss, man.
It's all in the day's work."