As we waited the odor of roses became much more pronounced, yet I sat at my post by the open window as though wanting fresh air, for the big sleeping-car was very stuffy, the heating apparatus being on. At last we moved out again, and I breathlessly waited for Duperre to hand me something to toss out to Tracy who was ready with the three signal lights beside the line. The train gathered speed quickly. We had travelled two hundred and seventy miles and now had only a little farther to go. With my eye upon the side of the track, I sat scarce daring to breathe. The ravine! We were crossing it! I glanced along the corridor. Nobody came in sight. Next instant I saw three white lights arranged in a row. But we flashed past them! For some reason, why, I knew not, the plot had failed! I dared not go to the compartment of either of my companions, so after sitting up a further half-hour I crept back to my sleeping-berth feeling very drowsy, and turning in, slept heavily. I was awakened by a loud hammering upon my door, and an excited voice outside calling: "Mr. Hargreave! Mr. Hargreave!" I opened it in astonishment to find the gray-headed old millionaire in his pajamas. "I've been robbed!" he gasped. "I can't wake the conductor. He's been drugged, I believe! What number is Mr. Rayne's compartment?" "Number four," I answered. "But what has been taken?" I asked. "Bonds that I was taking to my agent in Marseilles--over sixty thousand pounds' worth! My kitbag has been opened and the dispatch-box has been opened also while I've been asleep. The thief has evidently had the conductor's key or he couldn't have got into my compartment! The bonds must be still in the possession of one of the passengers," he added. "Our last stop was at Macon and I was awake then." Together we woke up Rayne, who at once busied himself in great alarm. "Possibly the bonds have been thrown from the train to an accomplice," he suggested, exchanging glances with me. "No. I'm sure they are still here--in the car. When next we stop I will prevent anyone leaving, and have all the passengers searched. The one thing that puzzles me is how the thief got to work without waking me, as I always place a little electric alarm on my bag when travelling with securities--and secondly, how did he manage to open both the bag and the dispatch-box it contained?" "Well," said Rayne. "Don't let us raise any alarm, but just wait till we get to Lyons. Then we'll see that nobody alights before we call the police." Then, turning to me, he said: "You'll keep one door, Hargreave, and I'll keep the other, while Mr. Blumenfeld gives information." Thus we waited. But I was sorely puzzled as to the whereabouts of the stolen bonds. If Duperre had taken them, how had he got rid of them? That he had done so was quite plain by Rayne's open attitude.