The Lady Vanishes Page #3

I had the honour of being governess.

Her brother was my employer.

And now I'm under obligation to her.

There was a muddle

about my place in the train.

I'd booked second-class,

but there wasn't a seat left.

The Baroness kindly paid

the difference

so I could travel first

class in her carriage.

She doesn't look kind.

None of them do.

Well, it's the authority they

exude.

But of course, one gets used to it.

You have no idea of the power

of my late employer.

What he says goes.

And he doesn't even have to speak,

a nod is enough.

Oh, you have no idea of the complex

nature of life in the Balkans.

People live side by side,

but there are many intolerances.

It's hard to know if it's

in their nature to be volatile,

or whether it's a product of it all.

May I tell you something. Oh, I...

My employer was away when I gave

notice and it troubled me,

thinking he might find my leaving

an act of treachery.

I went out for an early

morning walk.

You can't imagine how beautiful

the grounds are on the estate.

They really have the most

spectacular garden.

And I bumped into him.

He wasn't away after all!

He was supposed to have been out of

the country. Anyway he was charming.

One would think it was a relief to

be leaving under such unpleasant

circumstances, but...

What?

Do you know,

I found an English newspaper

this morning which was full of...

Oh, I'm so sorry, my dear,

have I bored you? I've bored you.

Not at all.

It's just terribly stuffy.

Oh, no, my dear. You can't possibly

leave them such a big tip.

Please. I don't mind. Oh, please,

I insist.

And I'm happy to pay for your tea.

Oh, do you know, my dear, I feel so

reinforced, now that I've met you.

We must stick together.

No, don't look so worried.

We'll have a wonderful time.

Pater and Mater can talk of nothing

else but my return.

They're as excited as children.

And so is Soc.

He'll be waiting for every train

until I return.

Soc? Soc. Yes. Short for Socrates.

Pater's name for him.

He's a Border Collie

and he's really devoted to me.

Look at these beautiful creatures.

I don't understand.

Why are all the people

from the hotel on this train?

Has it been perfect?

Oh, yes.

Not perfect, then.

But, darling, is anything perfect?

Not when we're living a lie.

That nun looks like a criminal.

She's not a nun, she's a nurse.

Then I pity her patients.

This patient is

the Baroness's sister.

They're all terribly

worried about her.

Pneumonia, they think.

She's been bleeding out of her ears.

The good doctor, the tall man with

glasses that came into our carriage,

has taken it upon himself to bring

her to Trieste.

That fascist is a doctor?

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