Our story begins in a railway station in Paris. Rudolph Rassindell, a young, titled Englishman has just discovered that there is no dining car on the train, and is buying some sandwiches and a bottle of wine from the buffet. As the man at the counter fumbles for the change, Rassindell hears a shrill whistle. With his wine and sandwiches under his arm, he runs out to the platform as the train is moving. Dodging a guard, he jumps on the step of the first class carriage, pulls open the door and enters a compartment where an attractive woman is sat, who frowns at him in annoyance...