memory. She checks the personal column of The Times but doesn't see what she expected to see there. Going to the restaurant car again, she is placed on the same table as the owner of the case and strikes up a conversation with him. She asks him if he is the same Parker Pyne of The Times''' adverts. He confirms that he is and he asks her whether she is unhappy. She confesses that she is. The cause is her husband of the past eighteen months. He is a sober and puritanical soul, who has been working in Constantinople for two weeks. She is on her way to join him. One week ago, in his study, she found a piece of blotting paper. On the paper was part of a message, which referred to her. It used the words, "just before Venice would be the best time." She cannot imagine what is going to happen to her when the train reaches this point. Pyne checks when they will arrive at Venice, and promises to help. The next day they are almost at the appointed spot when there is a cry of "Fire!" The two rush out into the corridor where a Slavic woman is pointing to the smoke coming out of one of the compartments further down the train. The conductor assures the passengers that there is no emergency. Pyne is suspicious, and returns to Elsie's compartment. He finds the Slavic woman there, supposedly recovering from the shock. Pyne refuses to let her leave when she wishes to. When Elsie returns, Pyne asks her to sort through her belongings. She does so and finds that her jewellery are missing. The Slavic woman is detained in Venice, but the jewels are not found on her and she has to be released. On the way to Trieste, Pyne and Elsie discuss the puzzle of where the jewels could possibly be. No one else had the opportunity to take them. The Slavic woman could not have thrown them to someone outside the train, as they were on the bridge passing over the sea. They have not been hidden in the compartment. Pyne decides that he must send a telegram at Trieste... The train reaches Constantinople and Pyne meets Edward Jeffries. He asks Elsie to meet him at the Tokatlian Hotel in thirty minutes time. She does so, and he hands all of her