‘How many passengers had you?’
The porter considered.
‘Three, monsieur,’ he replied at length.
‘Did you know who they were?’
‘Two of them I knew, monsieur. One was M. Leblanc, a gentleman who had stayed in the hotel for over a month. The second was M. Felix, who has been a constant visitor for years. The third was an English gentleman, but I do not know his name.’
‘Did these gentlemen converse together while in the bus?’
‘I saw M. Felix speaking to the Englishman as they were leaving the bus, otherwise I cannot say.’
‘Did they go by the 8.20?’
‘Yes, monsieur. I put their luggage into the carriages, and I saw all three in the train as it was starting.’
‘Was M. Felix alone?’