An English traveller in Germany entered a first-class carriage in which
there was only one seat vacant, a middle one. A corner seat was occupied
by a German, who evidently had placed his portmanteau on the opposite
one—at least the traveller suspected that this was the case. The latter
asked, “Is this seat engaged?” “Yes,” was the reply. When the time for
the departure of the train had almost arrived, the Englishman said, “Your
friend is going to miss the train, if he is not quick.” “Oh, that is all
right. I’ll keep it for him.” Soon the signal came and the train
started, when the passenger seized the portmanteau, and threw it out of
the window, exclaiming, “He’s missed his train but he mustn’t lose his
baggage!” That portmanteau was the German’s.