The guard grumbled, and discussed the matter with several officials. Almost immediately afterwards Riche and Marcel saw him walk rapidly away. Slowly the huge train steamed out of the station, and various shunting movements took place until at length, after ten minutes delay, a brand-new first-class carriage was attached to the rear of the train. "Now get in, gentlemen, quickly," said the guard somewhat testily as he blew the whistle. The moment they were seated, Riche pulled out of his pocket a silver-mounted cigar case and handed Marcel a fine Hanava cigar, at the same time selecting one for himself. As the train rolled out of the station the guard saw to his horror two blue clouds of smoke rolling out of the window of the compartment. "Sacr--r--re bleu?" hissed the guard as he held up his hands and shook his fists at the sham officials as they disappeared in the distance, while Riche and Marcel waved their handkerchiefs at the frantic guard as a parting shot. "By Jove, you know how to travel," said Marcel as he handed Riche a five franc-piece. "Now for a cosy nap," said Riche, and making a comfortable bed by a skilful arrangement of the seats, he wrapped himself in his rug, put his ticket in the flap of his cap, and was soon fast asleep. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 18: In our heads five senses dwell, In many ways we use them, But when we love a maiden well Alas! we quickly lose them.] CHAPTER XXII VIOLETTE NURSES HER FATHER WITH ALARMING RESULTS The comfort of a long railway journey is largely dependent on the number of people travelling in the compartment. Two is the ideal number, as one person can lie outstretched on each side. Two is company but three is none, and is nearly as bad as four, in fact it verges on misery for two out of the three, but five makes comfort impossible. Such was the state of things in Monsieur Beaupaire's coupé. Monsieur, Madame, and Mademoiselle Beaupaire were congratulating themselves on travelling undisturbed, when a couple of English tourists clambered in--or rather were pushed in just as the train was moving, in spite of the protests and remonstrances of the Beaupaires. The compartment became unbearably stuffy, all the windows being, as is usual on the Continent, hermetically sealed. It is the wonder of all Englishmen that 'Foreigners' insist on travelling with all openings for ventilation persistently closed, and equally incomprehensible to the foreigner how Englishmen can travel with the windows open, and not catch their death of cold. "Phew! this is awfully stuffy," exclaimed the elder of the two Englishmen who answered to the name of Ridgeway, "I can't imagine why these foreigners always insist on having the windows closed. There's not a breath of air in the place, Charley," he said to the younger of the two, "do open the windows, there's a good chap." The young man got up and tugged at the strap at the window--it gave way and he fell backwards on to the feet of the passengers.