She had taken her ticket. That might be safely inferred, for she was in the waiting-room with her porter and her bags, ready to pass out upon the platform as soon as the doors were opened. (Everyone knows that the idiotic and uncomfortable practice still prevails in Switzerland of shutting passengers off from the train till the very last moment.)
This waiting-room served for many lines, and I could only wait patiently to enter the particular train for which she would be summoned.
When at length an official unlocked the door and announced the train for Biel, Neuchatel, Lausanne, and Brieg, she got up to take her seat, and I had no longer any doubt as to the direction of her journey.
So as I saw her go, I slipped back to the ticket-office and took my place all the way to Brieg, the furthest point on the line.
This was obviously my best and safest plan, as I should then be ready for anything that happened.
I could get out anywhere, wherever she did, in fact.
After getting my ticket I found time to telegraph to Falfani at Lucerne, giving him my latest news, and then proceeded to the train.
I found the lady easily enough, and got into the same carriage with her.
It was one of those on the Swiss plan, with many compartments opening into one another en suite.
Although the seat I chose was at a discreet distance, I was able to keep her in view.
I was wondering whether it would be possible for me to break the ice and make her acquaintance, when luck served me better than I dared to hope.
One of the Swiss guards of the train, a surly, overbearing brute, like so many others of his class, accosted her rudely, and from his gestures was evidently taking her to task as to the number and size of her parcels in the net above.
He began to shift them, and, despite her indignant protests in imperfect German, threw some of them on the floor.
This was my opportunity.
I hurried to the rescue, and, being fluent in German as in several other languages—it is part of my stock in trade—I sharply reproved the guard and called him an unmannerly boor for his cowardly treatment of an unprotected lady.
My reward was a sweet smile, and I felt encouraged to hazard a few words in reply to her cordial thanks.
She responded quickly, readily, and I thought I might improve the occasion by politely inquiring if I could be of any further service to her.
"Perhaps you can tell me, you see I am strange on this line," she answered with a perfectly innocent air, "do you happen to know at what time we are due at Lausanne?"
"Not to the minute," I replied. "I have a railway guide in my bag, shall I fetch it?"
"No, no, I should not like to give you so much trouble."
"But it will be no trouble.
Let me fetch my bag."
I went off in perfect good faith, anxious to oblige so charming a lady.
I had not the slightest suspicion that she was playing with me.
Silly ass that I was, I failed to detect the warning that dropped from her own lips.
When I got back with the Bradshaw I came upon them for just one moment unawares.
The maid must have been making some remarks displeasing to my lady, who was answering her with much asperity.
"I know what I am doing, Philpotts.
Be so good as to leave it to me.
It is the only way."
Then she caught sight of me as I stood before her, and her manner instantly changed.
She addressed me very sweetly and with the utmost composure.
"Oh, how very good of you, I feel quite ashamed of myself."
"Why should you?
It is delightful to be of use to you.
Lausanne I think you said?" I asked casually as I turned over the pages of the guide. "You are going to Lausanne?"
"No, Vevey to Montreux.
I only wanted to know whether there would be time for dejeuner at Lausanne.
I think there is no dining-car on this train?"
"No, it is on the next, which is extraordinarily bad mismanagement. It is a slow train the next, and we are a special express.
But you will have a clear half-hour to spare at Lausanne.
That will be enough, I presume?
Lausanne at 12 noon, and we go on at half-past."
"You, too, are going beyond Lausanne?"
"Possibly, I am not quite sure.
It depends upon my meeting friends somewhere on the lake, either there or further on.
If they come on board we shall run on to Brieg so as to drop over the Alps to Lake Maggiore by the Simplon route."
I threw this out carelessly but with deliberate intention, and the shot told.
A crimson flush came over her face and her hands trembled violently.
I had not the smallest doubt that this was her plan also.