ired. "It is a great sum to carry about, is it not?"

"It is far better to carry about one's money than to trust it to anyone
but to a well-managed bank," exclaimed his wife, before Anna could answer
the question. "As for the hotel-keepers, I would not trust them with one
penny. What happened to a friend of ours, eh, Fritz, tell them that?"

They were now packed into an open carriage, and driving towards the
Pension Malfait.

"I don't know what you are talking about," said her husband, crossly.

"Yes, you do! That friend of ours who was boarding in one of those small
houses in the Condamine at Monte Carlo, and who one day won a lot of
money. He gave his winnings to his hotel-keeper to keep for the night.
Next day the man said his safe had been broken open by a foreign waiter
who had disappeared. Our friend had no redress--none at all! Malfait may
be a very good sort of man, but I would not give him your money--" she
turned to Anna.

"No, of course not," said Madame Wolsky. "I should never think of
entrusting a really large sum of money to a man of whom I know nothing.
It is, as you say, very much better to keep one's money on one's person.
It's the plan I've always followed. Then, if it is stolen, or if one
loses it, one has only oneself to blame."

"It is very exciting taking the Bank," she added, after a pause. "I think
I shall take the Bank again next time I play."

The short drive was soon over, and as Anna and Sylvia were going into the
Pension Malfait, Madame Wachner called out, "Will you both come to supper
to-morrow?"

Sylvia shook her head.

"I am going into Paris for the day," she said, "and I shall feel tired
when I get back. But many thanks, all the same."

"Then _you_ must come"--Madame Wachner addressed Anna Wolsky. "We also
will have a rest from the Casino."

"Very well! I accept gratefully your kind invitation."

"Come early. Come at six, and we can 'ave a cosy chat first."

"Yes, I will!"

After giving directions that they were to be told when the carriage had
come back from the Chalet des Muguets, the two friends went up to Anna
Wolsky's bed-room.

Sylvia sat down by the open window.

"You need not light a candle, Anna," she said. "It's so pleasant just
now, so quiet and cool, and the light would only attract those horrid
midges. They seem to me the only things I have to find fault with in
Lacville!"

Anna Wolsky came and sat down in the darkness close to the younger woman.

"Syl