"But it is of great importance that we see our things—there are some things in my trunk I must get at, some important things——"
"Try and fergit them until next Wednesday, when they can be dumped on Ellis Island; nuff sed—no more lingo—beat it!"
The pair went away in very ugly humor, and I started the work of clearing that baggage room of their dunnage, and trying to select the trunks of the countess from the raffle. I managed to get about twenty of them, and let it go at that.
The next day I took the countess below, and personally showed her over the trunks. She was accompanied by the count and her maid.
"Now, Marie, which trunk was it in, ma chère? You must remember it very well," she said, looking at the mass of baggage.
"Mais oui, it must be that grand affaire—that beeg one—see!" And the maid pointed to an immense Saratoga trunk, big enough to hold the clothes of a full man-o'-war's crew.
The baggage master and I pulled the trunk out of the ruck, and the count produced a bunch of keys.
I sauntered over to the other side of the room, where the gratings separated the steerage from the rest. The two fellows I saw there yesterday were watching through the slats, and did not notice me.
"Deux cent," said one, in a whisper.
"Whew, mon Dieu——"