January 13 - Milano - the Trip to Venice

[robertod]

The investigators quickly pack their bags and take the Orient Express at the Milan station. They get on the carriage around 10.30pm and in a few minutes the train leaves. Despite the late hour, the train is quite full of people and the investigators find free seats in a compartment with other travellers.

The trip from Milan to Venice is a short one, of a few hours total. During the trip, the investigator encounter Maria Stagliani, a woman sharing their compartment. Maria boards the train in Milan as well. She is an attractive young woman, but is dressed in black and veiled in mourning. Weeping she clutches a silver locket and a lace handkerchief patently inadequate to its task. She is accompanied by Bice, her sober middle-aged maid.

When she discovers that she inevitably has attracted the curiosity of her traveling companions, she apologizes. With a friendly smile, Miss Stagliani explains in excellent English that her father died suddenly of pneumonia at home in Venice while she was visiting relatives in Milan. He slipped into the canal, and never recovered. She has cut short her holiday and is now returning. She shows them a portrait of her father in her locket. He´s a not-so-elderly gentleman. His name was Giovanni Stagliani. He taught Philosophy and Comparative Religion at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm sorry for your loss," says Felicity. "It's good to meet you. I remember fondly my time at university. I studied English literature at Oxford. You sound well-educated too. Did you attend Ca' Foscari University?"

[Mephistophilis]

Never one to overlook the charms of an attractive young woman, Andrew is quite attentive, offering his handkerchief in her service. 'My sincerest sympathy for your loss, Signorina.' At Felicity's comments he remarks, 'What a coincidence, I studied archaeology in Cambridge before the war. I enjoyed it so much I decided to become an academic myself. I understand from my colleagues who have visited that the Istituto Superiore's buildings are quite remarkable.'

[SaintMeerkat]

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Archie made his way through the train to the cabin he was sharing with his friends. As he finally reached the compartment, he apologized profusely. "I am so sorry. I could have sworn I stopped by the cabin on Friday...I mean...a few minutes ago. I get turned around sometimes since the gh..."

He was just about to say "ghost train" when he noticed that there was a stranger in their midst and he immediately turned it into "...since the girl gave me those awful directions. I didn't mean to interrupt. Beastly manners. Again, I am so sorry."

He extended his hand with a smile. "Doctor Archibald McElhaney," he said warmly. "I'm a Brichester Man myself."

[robertod]

Maria looks at Archie with a questioning look, then decides not to get too distracted and nods at Felicity to continue the conversation. She says that she is in fact studying literature at university. Her father always encouraged her to study and allowed her to choose what she liked more.
After Andrew mentions that he is also an academic, Maria becomes even more curious and interested in the conversation.
"What are you doing in Italy? Are you tourists or are you studying something here?"

[Mr. Handy]

"A little of both," says Felicity. "We're always keen to learn more about history, and Venice has plenty of it. One place in Venice we're interested in seeing is the church of San Maria Celeste. Are you familiar with it?"

[SaintMeerkat]

"Ahh, literature. Yes, what a lovely field. I adore a good book myself, and I suppose someone needs to analyze the trends, the grammar, the philosophy of it. I envy you. You have a wonderful few years ahead of you, I am sure."

Archie chimes in with Felicity. "History and touristing..." he rubs his tingling hand. "And various other things."

[Mephistophilis]

Following on from Felicity's prompting, Andrew continues, 'Indeed, I do love an old church, and even more an old church's library. So much fascinating history. We're on something of a grand tour, a grand academic tour you might say. Visiting the great cities of Europe and sampling what historical, academic, and antique delights we might find.'

[aine]

Clarence snores quietly in the corner, his hat pulled over his face and his scarf drawn up around his ears. He is exhausted and the chest pains aren’t helping but his ears prick up on the word ‘antique’ and he lifts a bleary face.
“Hmm? Antiquities and oddities all very interesting, hmm.”
He focuses on the young woman.
“Clarence Dalrymple at your service.”

[Mr. Handy]

"And I'm Felicity Hayward, of the London Haywards," says Felicity, curious if her reputation has preceded her.

[robertod]

Felicity's full name sounds familiar to Maria. Yes, Maria occasionally browses the gossip magazines when she is at the hairdresser. She giggles briefly and feels relieved to be able to talk about more frivolous things now, almost forgetting about the mourning. All the occupants of the compartment spend the journey to Venice in pleasant company.