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e no toilets in the cabins of the train； but there were some located at the end of each car。 If Tracy was questioned； she was prepared to say that she was looking for the ladies' room； but she encountered no one。 The conductors and porters were taking advantage of the early…morning hours to catch up on their sleep。
Tracy reached Cabin E 70 without incident。 She quietly tried the doorknob。 The door was locked。 Tracy opened the sponge bag and took out a metallic object and a small bottle with a syringe； and went to work。
Ten minutes later she was back in her cabin； and thirty minutes after that she was asleep； with the trace of a smile on her freshly scrubbed face。
**********
At 7：00 A。M。； two hours before the Orient Express was due to arrive in Milan； a series of piercing screams rang out。 They came from Cabin E 70； and they awakened the entire car。 Passengers poked their heads out of their cabins to see what was happening。 A conductor came hurrying along the car and entered E 70。
Silvana Luadi was in hysterics。 〃Aiuto！ Help！〃 she screamed。 〃All my jewelry is gone！ This miserable train is full of ladri… thieves！〃
〃Please calm down； madame；〃 the conductor begged。 〃The other…〃
〃Calm down！〃 Her voice went up an octave。 〃How dare you tell me to calm down； stupido maiale！ Someone has stolen more than a million dollars' worth of my jewels！〃
〃How could this have happened？〃 Alberto Fornati demanded。 〃The door was locked… and Fornati is a light sleeper。 If anyone had entered； I would have awakened instantly。〃
The conductor sighed。 He knew only too well how it had happened； because it had happened before。 During the night someone had crept down the corridor and sprayed a syringe full of ether through the keyhole。 The locks would have been child's play for someone who knew what he was doing。 The thief would have closed the door behind him； looted the room； and； having taken what he wanted； quietly crept back to his partment while his victims were still unconscious。 But there was one thing about this burglary that was different from the others。 In the past the thefts had not been discovered until after the train had reached its destination； so the thieves had had a chance to escape。 This was a different situation。 No one had disembarked since the robbery； which meant that the jewelry still had to be on board。
〃Don't worry；〃 the conductor promised the Fornatis。 〃You'll get your jewels back。 The thief is still on this train。〃
He hurried forward to telephone the police in Milan。
**********
When the Orient Express pulled into the Milan terminal； twenty uniformed policemen and plainclothes detectives lined the station platform； with orders not to let any passengers or baggage off the train。
Luigi Ricci； the inspector in charge； was taken directly to the Fornati partment。
If anything； Silvana Luadi's hysteria had increased。 〃Every bit of jewelry I owned was in that jewel case；〃 she screamed。 〃And none of it was insured！〃
The inspector examined the empty jewel case。 〃You are sure you put your jewels in there last night； signora？〃
〃Of course I am sure。 I put them there every night。〃 Her luminous eyes； which had thrilled millions of adoring fans； pooled over with large tears； and Inspector Ricci was ready to slay dragons for her。
He walked over to the partment door； bent down； and sniffed the keyhole。 He could detect the lingering odor of ether。 There had been a robbery； and he intended to catch the unfeeling bandit。
Inspector Ricci straightened up and said； 〃Do not worry； signora。 There is no way the jewels can be removed from this train。 We will catch the thief； and your gems will be returned to you。〃
Inspector Ricci had every reason to be confident。 The trap was tightly sealed； and there was no possibility for the culprit to get away。
One by one； the detectives escorted the passengers to a station waiting room that had been roped off； and they were expertly body searched。 The passengers； many of them people of prominence； were outraged by this indignity。
〃I'm sorry；〃 Inspector Ricci explained to each of them； 〃but a million…dollar theft is a very serious business。〃
As each passenger was led from the train； detectives turned their cabins upside down。 Every inch of space was examined。 This was a splendid opportunity for Inspector Ricci； and he intended to make the most of it。 When he recovered the stolen jewels； it would mean a promotion and a raise。 His imagination became inflamed。 Silvana Luadi would be so grateful to him that she would probably invite him to。。。 He gave orders with renewed vigor。
There was a knock at Tracy's cabin door and a detective entered。 〃Excuse me； signorina。 There has been a robbery。 It is necessary to search all passengers。 If you will e with me； please。。。〃
〃A robbery？〃 Her voice was shocked。 〃On this train？〃
〃I fear so； signorina。〃
When Tracy stepped out of her partment； two detectives moved in； opened her suitcases； and began carefully sifting through the contents。
At the end of four hours the search had turned up several packets of marijuana； five ounces of cocaine； a knife； and an illegal gun。 There was no sign of the missing jewelry。
Inspector Ricci could not believe it。 〃Have you searched the entire train？〃 he demanded of his lieutenant。
〃Inspector； we have searched every inch。 We have examined the engine； the dining rooms； the bar； the toilets； the partments。 We have searched the passengers and crew and examined every piece of luggage。 I can swear to you that the jewelry is not on board this train。 Perhaps the lady imagined the theft。〃
But Inspector Ricci knew better。 He had spoken to the waiters； and they had confirmed that Silvana Luadi had indeed worn a dazzling display of jewelry at dinner the evening before。
A representative of the Orient Express had flown to Milan。 〃You cannot detain this train any longer；〃 he insisted。 〃We are already far behind schedule。〃
Inspector Ricci was defeated。 He had no excuse for holding the train any further。 There was nothing more he could do。 The only explanation he could think of was that somehow； during the night； the thief had tossed the jewels off the train to a waiting confederate。 But could it have happened that way？ The timing would have been impossible。 The thief could not have known in advance when the corridor would be clear； when a conductor or passenger might be prowling about； what time the train would be at some deserted assignation point。 This was a mystery beyond the inspector's power to solve。
〃Let the train go on；〃 he ordered。
He stood watching helplessly as the Orient Express slowly pulled out of the station。 With it went his promotion； his raise； and a blissful orgy with Silvana Luadi。
**********
The sole topic of conversation in the breakfast car was the robbery。
〃It's the most exciting thing that's happened to me in years；〃 confessed a prim teacher at a girls' school。 She fingered a small gold necklace with a tiny diamond chip。 〃I'm lucky they didn't take this。〃
〃Very；〃 Tracy gravely agreed。