Encounter on the Orient Express
The Orient Express sped across southern France toward the Alps. The year was 1951, and I was on my way from Paris to Istanbul. In those days, the only civilised way to make that journey was to travel by the Orient Express.
I hurried along the passageway towards the dining car. I had become completely immersed in my writing and had lost track of time, and now the final sitting for dinner was about to close.
I reached the dining car and sat down just in time, much to the annoyance of the headwaiter. Taking pity on the kitchen staff, I ordered a simple dinner, roast beef and vegetables.
While I waited for my food to be prepared, my mind went back to the novel that I was writing. My hero had got himself into what we English call a 'sticky situation', and I was trying to figure out an ingenious way for him to extricate himself. As I stared into space, I was momentarily distracted by movement at a nearby table. I glanced towards the table and was taken by the sight of a beautiful woman sitting there alone. She was obviously French, and she wore an expensive looking pale green evening dress. Then she looked in my direction and, not wishing to embarrass her, I quickly looked away.
My dinner was delivered and as I ate, I glanced occasionally at the woman in the green dress, but she did not see me look at her. By the time I finished eating we were the only two people left in the dining car. I was enjoying the last of my wine when suddenly she looked straight into my eyes. I raised my glass and said, "To a beautiful lady."
"Thank you," she said, smiling at me. Then after a few seconds she added, "Would you like to join me? I think that I need some help to finish this champagne."
"Delighted," I replied. I went over and sat down at her table, and she said, " I must confess that I recognised you. You are the famous English writer James Brown, are you not?"
"Well, I don't know about the 'famous' part, but I am James Brown, and I do write novels," I replied, trying to sound modest.