Whenever I stirred, she stopped her
chattering and leaned toward me, and watched me like a cat over a
mouse-hole. I wondered how I could have considered her an agreeable
travelling-companion. I thought I would have preferred to be locked
in with a lunatic. I don't like to think how she would have acted if
I had made a move to examine the bag, but as I had it safely strapped
around me again, I did not open it, and I reached Marseilles alive.
As we drew into the station she shook hands with me and grinned at me
like a Cheshire cat.
"'I cannot tell you,' she said, 'how much I have to thank you for.'
What do you think of that for impudence?
"I offered to put her in a carriage, but she said she must find
Natalie, and that she hoped we would meet again at the hotel. So I
drove off by myself, wondering who she was, and whether Natalie was
not her keeper.
"I had to wait several hours for the train to Nice; and as I wanted
to stroll around the city I thought I had better put the diamonds in
the safe of the hotel. As soon as I reached my room I locked the
door, placed the hand-bag on the table, and opened it. I felt among
the things at the top of it, but failed to touch the cigar-case.
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