Then went down to the station as the train _des decaves_, the train of the stony-broke, steamed in; and they settled themselves in an empty first-class compartment.

Her heart seemed to sink to her shoes as she felt the train move.

Then the door opened, and, hauling the panting Blazer by the scruff of his neck, Tinker tumbled into the carriage.
Claire gave a great gasp of relief: the sight of him gave her a faint hope of escape; his presence was a respite.

Tinker lifted Blazer on to the seat between him and Courtnay, crying cheerfully, "I thought I'd just missed you! I've got a note for you from Madame de Belle-Ile, and I knew she'd never forgive me if I didn't give it to you!" Courtnay's florid face had already lost a little colour at the mere intrusion of his inveterate persecutor that alone presaged disaster; at his words his eyes displayed a lively, but uncomfortable tendency to start out of his head.

"I don't know what you mean!" he stuttered.