“Sit down,” said Marescal, offering him a cigarette. “I propose to demonstrate two fundamental facts, in my humble opinion, of the greatest importance. The first of them is that the English girl, as you describe her, has been the victim of a mistake. Yes, Monsieur, of a mistake. Don’t burst into protests; I can prove it. At the moment fixed by the train’s slackening speed, as they knew it would be forced to do, the robbers, who were in the car behind—I remember having noticed them from a distance, and I even believe that there were three of them—attack you and rob you; they attack your traveling companion and try to tie her up. Then of a sudden they leave her and move on—to the end compartment. What was the reason of this right-about turn? It was the fact that they had made a mistake, because the young woman was hidden under her rug, because they thought they were attacking two men and found that what they had attacked was a man and a woman. Hence their consternation.... ‘Curse it! It’s a woman!’ And hence their hasty departure. They explore the car and find the two men they are really seeking—the two men in the end compartment. These two are on their guard and defend themselves. They shoot them and strip them of everything they have—suit-cases, bags, everything has gone. That’s the first point clearly established. What?” Ralph was surprised, not by the hypothesis, for he had formed the same hypothesis himself some time before, but that Marescal should have formed it and set it forth with such a logical astuteness. He expressed his warm admiration. “The second point,” said Marescal, evidently delighted by Ralph’s appreciation. He held out a small silver box, delicately chased. “I found that at the back of the seat.” “A snuff-box?” said Ralph. “Yes, an old snuff-box,” said Marescal. “But it is used as a cigarette-case.” He opened the box. “Seven cigarettes, you see. A mild tobacco—for a woman.” “Or for a man,” said Ralph, smiling. “For after all there were only men there.” “For a woman, I tell you.” “Impossible,” Ralph protested. “Just smell the box.” Ralph took it, sniffed at it, and agreed. “You’re right—of course, you’re right. The scent of a woman who keeps her cigarette-case in her vanity bag along with her handkerchief and powder-puff and scent-spray. There’s no mistaking the smell,” he said. “Well?” said Marescal in a tone of triumph. “Well, I don’t understand anything about it. There are two men here whom we found murdered, and two men who attacked them and murdered them and bolted,” said Ralph in a tone of bewilderment. “Why not a man and a woman?” “What? A woman? One of these robbers a woman?” cried Ralph in well-feigned amazement. “What about this box of cigarettes?” asked Marescal, tapping it. “It’s hardly sufficient proof,” protested Ralph. “I’ve got another,” declared Marescal. “What is it?”