“But of course he will have to settle down one day,” Coco said. “It is required that he produce the heir on the right side of the blanket. And then he will be a good catch. For someone who doesn’t mind the constant nocturnal straying.”

The meal was delicious and the conversation equally so. I felt the champagne bubbling in my head as I went back to my compartment. I found that my bed had been pulled out and made up for the night, also that the compartment now had a lingering hint of foreign cigarette smoke. Queenie, of course, was nowhere to be seen.

“Queenie?” I called.

I heard stirrings next door and she appeared. “Sorry, miss. I must have dozed off.”

“Queenie, did you watch my bed being made up?”

“Yes, miss—I mean, meelady.”

“Was the attendant smoking when he did it?”

“Oh, no, miss. Of course he wasn’t.”

“But there’s a distinct smell of French cigarettes. Has anyone else been in here?”

“Of course not.”

She had admitted to dozing. My first thought was my jewel case. I don’t have many jewels but the ones I have are family heirlooms. I climbed up to get it down from the rack and was relieved to find the jewels all there. Then I opened my big suitcase and stared at it in surprise.

“Queenie, have you been in my suitcase?”

“Why would I do that?” she asked. “I ain’t touched nothing of yours. Honest.”

“Haven’t touched anything,” I corrected.

“That’s what I said. Ain’t touched nothing.”

I stared at it again. “That’s distinctly odd. Someone has been through this suitcase. But it only contains my clothes and they’re not exactly valuable or high fashion. I wonder what they could have been looking for.”

I went back out to the corridor and located the Pullman attendant.

“Did you see anyone going into my compartment?” I asked him.

He shook his head vehemently, but then added, “But I have been making up all the beds. Someone could have come past while I was occupied, my lady. But your maid is present, no? She guards your possessions.”

He obviously didn’t know Queenie. I walked back, perplexed and feeling rather unsafe. Had Queenie surprised someone just when he’d started going through my things, before he’d located my jewel case? I put it behind my pillow before I fell asleep.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

January 22, 1933
Lovely fine day. On the Blue Train going through France.
Things are looking up!