The Rome Express »

Major Arthur Griffiths (1838-1908) was born at an Indian garrison post, a descendent of a long line of military men. After serving as a Second Lieutenant during the Crimean War his regiment was posted to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also served for a period at Gibraltar before retiring from the military to join the civil service where he held the post of Inspector of Prisons. He wrote numerous books including "Mysteries of Police and Crime", "The Chronicles of Newgate", "The Passenger from Calais", and "The Rome Express."

"I had my suspicions from the first, and I will tell you why. At Laroche the car emptied, as you may have heard; every one except the Countess, at least, went over to the restaurant for early coffee; I with the rest. I was one of the first to finish, and I strolled back to the platform to get a few whiffs of a cigarette. At that moment I saw, or thought I saw, the end of a skirt disappearing into the sleeping-car. I concluded it was this maid, Hortense, who was taking her mistress a cup of coffee. Then my brother came up, we exchanged a few words, and entered the car together."