Glancing at the tall figure in black, I saw that she was not more than twenty-two at the outside, and that she had the bearing and manner of a lady. "Well, m'sieur, she will explain herself," the man said, whereupon the fair stranger approached bowing, and exclaimed: "I trust m'sieur will pardon me for what I am about to ask," she said in French. "I know it is great presumption on my part, a total stranger, but the fact is that I am bound to get to Paris to-morrow. It is imperative--most imperative--that I should be there and keep an appointment. I find, however, that all the berths are taken, and that the only vacant one is in your compartment. I thought----" and she hesitated, with downcast eyes. "You mean that you want me to allow you to travel here, mademoiselle?" I said, with a smile. "Ah, m'sieur! If you would; if you only would! It would be an act of friendship that I would never forget." She saw my hesitation, and I detected how anxious she became. Her gloved hands were trembling, and she seemed agitated and pale to the lips. Again I scrutinised her. There was nothing of the spy or adventuress about her. On the contrary, she seemed a very charmingly modest young woman, for in continuation of her request she suggested that she could sit in the conductor's seat in the corridor. "But surely that would be rather wearisome, mademoiselle?" I said. "No, no, not at all. I must get to Paris at all costs. Ah, m'sieur! You will allow me to do as I ask, will you not? Do. I implore you." I made no reply, for truth to tell, although I was not suspicious, I hesitated to allow the fair stranger to be my travelling companion. It was against my principle. Yet reading disinclination in my silence, she continued: "Ah, m'sieur! If you only knew in what deadly peril I am! By granting this favour to me you can"--and she broke off short. "Well," she went on, "I may as well tell you the truth, m'sieur," and in her eyes there was a strange look that I had never seen in those of any woman before, "you can save my life." "Your life!" I echoed, but at that moment the sleeping-car conductor, standing at the buffet-door, called: "_En voiture_, m'sieur. The train is just starting." "Do take me," implored the girl. "Do, m'sieur. Do." There was no time for further discussion, therefore I did as she requested, and a few moments later, with a dressing-case, which was all the baggage she had, she mounted into the _wagon-lit_, and we moved off to the French capital. I offered her the sleeping-compartment to herself, but she steadily refused to accept it. "No, m'sieur, certainly not," was her reply. "I shall sit in the corridor all night, as I have already said."