"Some hours ago. I did not look at the clock."
"But you know by the steamers that arrive. You men must know which are due, and when they pass through."
"Come, come, Antoine," broke in the conductor, determined to give him a lead, "you must know that; there are not so many. It would be about 2 p.m., wouldn't it, when the express boat comes from Vevey and Bouveret?"
"Yes, I make no doubt of that," said the man, with a gleam of intelligence upon his stolid face.
"And the ladies went on board it, you say? Yes? You are sure?"
"It must have been so; I certainly carried their traps on board."
"Now, are you quite positive it was the two o'clock going that way, and not the quarter past two returning from Geneva?" I had my Bradshaw handy, and was following the timetable with my fingers.
"The 2.15?" The gleam of light went out entirely from his stolid face. "I have an idea you are right, sir. You see the two boats come in so near each other and lie at the same pier. I could easily make a mistake between them."
"It is my firm belief," I said, utterly disgusted with the fellow, "my firm belief that you have made a mistake all through. You never saw the ladies at all, either of you." I turned upon the conductor with a fierce scowl. "You are a rank humbug; you have taken my money under false pretences. I've a precious good mind to report you to your superiors, and insist upon your refunding the money. You've swindled me out of it, thief and liar that you are."
"Come, come, don't speak so freely. My superiors will always listen first to one of their own employés, and it will be awkward if I charge you with obstructing an official and making false charges against him."