The Russian struck down the conductor's fingers with his right hand, and by a swift motion of the left closed the door of Compartment A, all of which happened in a tenth of the time taken to tell it.
"Oh, pardon me!" cried Jennie in English, "I'm afraid a lurch of the car threw me against you." The Russian, before answering, cast a look at the floor and saw the large envelope lying there with its seal uppermost.

He quietly placed his huge foot upon it, and then said, with an effort at politeness,-- "It is no matter, madam.

I fear I am so bulky that I have taken up most of the passage." "It is very good of you to excuse me," said Jennie; "I merely came out to ask the conductor if he would make up my berth.

Would you be good enough to translate that to him ?" The Russian surlily told the conductor to attend to the wants of the lady.

The conductor muttered a reply, and that reply the Russian translated.
"He will be at your service in a few moments, madam.