Program for a Puppet by Roland Perry

only person there not making conversation.
    Graham kept an eye on the bar as he sat down at a table next to a middle-aged couple and a young woman. He was facing the bar and could see the reflection of the bald man’s face.
    The Australian looked around and noticed someone at an opposite table looking at him. It was the man he had seen on the platform and had later exchanged glances with from the couchette.
    Graham was nervous. His first instincts were to leave the dining car. But before he had made up his mind to go, a waiter was asking him for his order. He asked for a sandwich and a beer. His English drew glances from several people, including the man opposite. The waiter had stood in a line between the man at the bar and Graham. After the waiter had taken the order and moved away, the man at the bar went out of the dining car.
    Half an hour later Graham had almost finished his meal when the couple next to him left the table, leaving him with the girl. The Australian wanted to stay in the dining car as long as possible. He felt a little more secure there with so many people about. The man opposite him had almost finished his meal and was drinking coffee.
    â€œGoing to Paris?” Graham asked the girl sitting in front of him, mustering as much charm as possible.
    â€œ
Oui
,” she replied, surprised at being spoken to.
    â€œYou are French?”
    â€œYes.” The girl smiled faintly. Graham was relieved. She didn’t appear to mind making conversation.
    â€œHave you been on holiday in Vienna?”
    â€œHoliday and business.”
    â€œYou are a model?” Graham said, keeping up the small talk by asking the obvious. The girl was tall, beautifully dressed and groomed, with a lavish amount of make-up which accentuated the hollow, angular structure of her face.
    She nodded. The conversation continued with the girl opening up a little to Graham about her rich Austrian boyfriend in Vienna who had put her up for the past week at the opulent Hotel Sasher and shown her the sights.
    The dining car crowd began to thin out. Still the man opposite the Australian lingered, ordering a second cup of coffee and a cognac. Graham decided to stay there as long as he could. He ordered an expensive wine and two glasses, and pretended to turn more of his attention to the girl.
    As midnight approached the bar began to close down and the man opposite moved off. Graham walked the girl to her couchette, trying to keep the conversation going at her door while lightning flashed from a violent storm that had hit Austria and promised to be with the train most of the night journey to France. He began to think it would be safer to stay the night with her, but it became obvious that she was not prepared to let him in.
    â€œWill you be staying in Paris?” she asked, sliding the couchette door across.
    â€œPossibly.”
    She fumbled for a card in her handbag. “If you do, please phone me,” she said, handing him a card. They shook hands.
    As Graham moved off, he heard the click of the couchette door lock behind him.
    Two carriages away the Skull waited.
    After Graham had failed to turn up at the airport, Bromovitch had left his other man there in case the Australian should try to get on any later flight. Then he drove back to the city with the Skull and ordered him to check the trains. Bromovitch went back to the hotel where Graham had been staying.
    The Skull had arrived twenty minutes before the Paris trainwas due to leave and had waited for Graham on the platform. He had not seen the Australian get on, but caught the train just in case he had missed him.
    After arranging a couchette with the porter, the Skull had sidled down to the dining car, and had sat with his back to the diners, watching them in the mirror.
    When Graham came in, the Skull was alerted. He fitted the description better than the Italian at the airport. His suspicions were confirmed when he overheard Graham speaking in English to the