On this morning I had found an empty
compartment, and I had tipped the guard to keep everyone else out,
not from any fear of losing the diamonds, but because I wanted to
smoke. He had locked the door, and as the last bell had rung I
supposed I was to travel alone, so I began to arrange my traps and
make myself comfortable. The diamonds in the cigar-case were in the
inside pocket of my waistcoat, and as they made a bulky package, I
took them out, intending to put them in my hand-bag. It is a small
satchel like a bookmaker's, or those hand-bags that couriers carry. I
wear it slung from a strap across my shoulders, and, no matter
whether I am sitting or walking, it never leaves me.
"I took the cigar-case which held the necklace from my inside pocket
and the case which held the cigars out of the satchel, and while I
was searching through it for a box of matches I laid the two cases
beside me on the seat.
"At that moment the train started, but at the same instant there was
a rattle at the lock of the compartment, and a couple of porters
lifted and shoved a woman through the door, and hurled her rugs and
umbrellas in after her.
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