“One of them. The other died in a road accident.”
“A road accident!” Mathis chuckled. “That is a new way to kill them!” He looked at the revolver affectionately. “Perhaps I will not clean it. Perhaps I will keep it as it is as a souvenir.” He glanced up. “It was all right, that message I delivered?”
“Quite all right, and thank you again.” He hesitated. “There’s no restaurant car on the train. I have some sandwiches in my compartment. If you and your wife would like to join me.…”
“You are kind, but no thank you. We get off at Aix. It will not be long now. My family lives there. It will be strange to see them after so long. They …”
The door of the compartment behind him opened and Madame Mathis peered into the corridor. “Ah, there you are!” She recognised Graham and nodded disapprovingly.
“What is it, chérie?”
“The window. You open it, and go out to smoke. I am left to freeze.”
“Then you may shut it, chérie.”
“Imbecile! It is too stiff.”
Mathis sighed wearily and held out his hand. “Good-bye, my friend. I shall be discreet. You may depend upon it.”