Annemasse

She speculated whether having made this climb he had stopped and climbed no more, or whether he might not get out of this very train onto the platform at Chamonix.

But as the train slowed down near to Annemasse, she remembered that the exploit of which he had read had taken place more than twenty years ago.

End of chapter one.

Chapter two of Falling Water by A.E.W. Mason.

But though Gabriel Strood occupied no seat in that train, one of his successors was traveling by it to Chamonix after an absence of four years.

Of those four years, Captain Cheyne had passed the last two among the coal stacks of Aden, with the yellow land of Arabia at his back, longing each day for this particular morning and keeping his body lithe and strong against its coming.

He left the train at Annemasse, and crossing the rails to the buffet, sat down at the table next to that which Mrs. Thesiger and her daughter already occupied.

He glanced at them, placed them in their category, and looked away utterly uninterested.

She speculated whether having made this climb he had stopped and climbed no more, or whether he might not get out of this very train onto the platform at Chamonix.

But as the train slowed down near to Annemasse, she remembered that the exploit of which she had read had taken place more than twenty years ago.

End of chapter one Chapter two of Falling Water by A.E.W. Mason This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Introduces one of Strood's successors But though Gabriel Strood occupied no seat in that train, one of his successors was travelling by it to Chamonix after an absence of four years.

Of those four years, Captain Chain had passed the last two among the coal stacks of Aden, with the yellow land of Arabia at his back, longing each day for this particular morning and keeping his body lithe and strong against its coming.

He left the train at Annemasse, and crossing the rails to the buffet, sat down at the table next to that which Mrs. Thesiger and her daughter already occupied.

He glanced at them, placed them in their category, and looked away, utterly uninterested.

They belonged to the great class of the continental wanderers, people of whom little is known and everything suspected, people with no kinsfolk who flit from hotel to hotel, and gather about them for a season the knowing middle-aged men and the ignorant young ones, and perhaps here and there an unwary woman deceived by the more than fashionable cut of their clothes.

From her delicate bronze shoes to her large hat of mauve tulle, everything that she wore was unsuitable.

Of those four years, Captain Chain had passed the last two among the coal stacks of Aden, with the yellow land of Arabia at his back, longing each day for this particular morning and keeping his body lithe and strong against its coming.

He left the train at Annemasse and crossing the rails to the buffet, sat down at the table next to that which Mrs. Thesiger and her daughter already occupied.

He glanced at them, placed them in their category, and looked away utterly uninterested.

They belonged to the great class of the continental wanderers, people of whom little is known and everything suspected, people with no kinsfolk who flit from hotel to hotel and gather about them for a season the knowing middle-aged men and the ignorant young ones, and perhaps here and there an unwary woman deceived by the more than fashionable cut of their clothes.

From her delicate bronze shoes to her large hat of mauve tulle, everything that she wore was unsuitable.

The frock with its elaborations of lace and ribbons might have passed on the deal boards of Trouville.

Here at Annemasse, her super-fineness condemned her.

Chain would have thought no more of her, but as he passed her table on his way out of the buffet, his eyes happened to fall on the book which so engrossed her.

She speculated whether having made this climb he had stopped and climbed no more, or whether he might not get out of this very train onto the platform at Chamonix.

But as the train slowed down near to Annemasse, she remembered that the exploit of which she had read had taken place more than twenty years ago.

End of chapter one Chapter two of Falling Water by A.E.W. Mason This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Introduces one of Strood's successors But though Gabriel Strood occupied no seat in that train, one of his successors was travelling by it to Chamonix after an absence of four years.

Of those four years, Captain Chain had passed the last two among the coal stacks of Aden, with the yellow land of Arabia at his back, longing each day for this particular morning and keeping his body lithe and strong against its coming.

At five o'clock the next afternoon, Cheyne was leaning upon the rail looking straight down to the icefall.

The din of the torrent was in his ears, and it was not until a foot sounded lightly close behind him that he knew he was no longer alone.

He turned round and saw to his surprise the over-dainty doll of the Annemasse buffet, the child of the casinos and the bathing beaches, Sylvia Thesiger.

His surprise was very noticeable, and Sylvia's face flushed.

She speculated whether having made this climb he had stopped and climbed no more, or whether he might not get out of this very train onto the platform at Chamonix.

But as the train slowed down near to Annemasse, she remembered that the exploit of which he had read had taken place more than twenty years ago.

End of chapter one.

Chapter two of Falling Water by A. E. W. Mason.

But though Gabriel Strood occupied no seat in that train, one of his successors was traveling by it to Chamonix after an absence of four years.

Of those four years, Captain Chain had passed the last two among the coal stacks of Aden, with the yellow land of Arabia at his back, longing each day for this particular morning and keeping his body lithe and strong against its coming.

He left the train at Annemasse, and crossing the rails to the buffet, sat down at the table next to that which Mrs. Thesiger and her daughter already occupied.

He glanced at them, placed them in their category, and looked away, utterly uninterested.