He reached the station some ten minutes before the train was due.
Two or three half-drowsy, wrapped-up passengers were already on the
platform; but neither Don Caesar nor Colonel Pendleton was among
them. He explored the waiting-rooms and even the half-lit buffet,
but with no better success. Telling the Bahnhof Inspector that his
passage was only contingent upon the arrival of one or two
companions, and describing them minutely to prevent mistakes, he
began gloomily to pace before the ticket-office. Five minutes
passed--the number of passengers did not increase; ten minutes; a
distant shriek--the hoarse inquiry of the inspector--had the Herr's
companions yet gekommt? the sudden glare of a Cyclopean eye in the
darkness, the ongliding of the long-jointed and gleaming spotted
serpent, the train--a hurried glance around the platform, one or
two guttural orders, the slamming of doors, the remounting of black
uniformed figures like caryatides along the marchepieds, a puff of
vapor, and the train had come and gone without them.
Yet he would give his adversary fifteen minutes more to allow for
accident or delay, or the possible arrival of the colonel with an
explanation, and recommenced his gloomy pacing, as the Bahnhof sank
back into half-lit repose.
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