The luggage van is away forra'd."
He left.
At his breast a little lantern dangled.
It looked as if he were going along the shaft of a mine.
"Then we'll pull up our. stakes, Pat," said I. "I'll smuggle Billy in to you later.
There's nothing for him in the luggage Van."
I had not taken a sleeper for myself.
It was nothing to me to spend the night in a corner.
Besides, it was cheaper.
Jupp had already put Pat's luggage in the sleeping car.
The compartment was a pleasant little room panelled with mahogany.
Pat had the lower berth.
I asked the attendant if the upper one was booked.
"Yes," said he, "from Frankfurt."
"What time are we in Frankfurt?" I asked.
"Half-past two."
I gave him a tip and he went back to his corner.
"In half an hour I'll be back here with the dog."
"But you can't do that; the attendant stays in the car."
"Can't I?
Only don't lock your door."
I went back past the attendant, who looked at me.
At the next station I got out with the dog and walked along the platform past the sleeper to the next carriage.
There I waited until the attendant got out to have a chat with the guard.
Then I got in again, walked back along the corridor to the sleeping car, and came to Pat without being seen by anyone.
She had on a soft white cloak and looked lovely.
Her eyes were shining. "I'm quite over it now, Robby," said she.
"That's good.
But won't you lie down?
It's mighty narrow here.
Then I'll sit beside you."
"Yes, but—" She hesitated and pointed to the upper bunk. "What if the President of the League for Fallen Girls suddenly appears in the doorway?"
"It's a long time to Frankfurt yet," said I. "I'll watch out.
I won't fall asleep."
Shortly before Frankfurt I went back to my compartment. I sat in the corner by the window and tried to sleep.
But at Frankfurt a chap with a walrus moustache got in, immediately unpacked a parcel, and began eating.
He ate so intensively that I couldn't get to sleep.
The meal lasted almost an hour.
Then the walrus wiped his whiskers, stretched out, and started a concert the like of which I had never heard before.
It was not a simple snore; it was a howling sigh punctuated with groans and long-drawn blubberings.
I could discover no system in it, it was so varied.
Fortunately about half-past five he got out.
When I waked, everywhere outside was white.
It was snowing in great flakes and the compartment was bathed in a strange unearthly twilight.
We were already passing through the mountains.
It was almost nine o'clock.
I stretched and then went to wash and shave.
When I returned Pat was standing in the compartment. She looked fresh.
"Did you sleep well?" I asked.
She nodded.