at is not strange at all! Madame Wolsky probably
went off to Paris without knowing exactly where she meant to stay, and no
one wants to take luggage with them when they are looking round for an
hotel. I am expecting at any moment to receive a telegram telling me
where to send the luggage. You, Madame, if you permit me to say so, have
not had my experience--my experience, I mean, in the matter of ladies who
play at the Lacville Casino."

There was still a tone of covert insolence in her voice, and she went on,
"True, Madame Wolsky has not behaved as badly as she might have done.
Still, you must admit that it is rather inconsiderate of her, after
engaging the room for the whole of the month of August, to go off like
this!"

Madame Malfait felt thoroughly incensed, and did not trouble to conceal
the fact. But as Mrs. Bailey at last began walking towards the front
door, the landlady of the pension hurried after her.

"Madame will not say too much about her friend's departure, will she?"
she said more graciously. "I do not want any embarrassments with the
police. Everything is quite _en regle_, is it not? After all, Madame
Wolsky had a right to go away without telling anyone of her plans, had
she not, Madame?"

Sylvia turned round. "Certainly, she had an entire right to do so," she
answered coldly. "But, still, I should be much obliged if you will send
me word when you receive the telegram you are expecting her to send you
about the luggage."

* * * * *

"Well?" cried Madame Wachner eagerly, as Sylvia silently got into the
motor again. "Have you learnt anything? Have they not had news of our
friend?"

"They have heard nothing since they found that odd letter of hers," said
Sylvia. "You never told me about the letter, Madame Wachner?"

"Ah, that letter! I saw it, too. But it said nothing, absolutely
nothing!" exclaimed Madame Wachner.

And Sylvia suddenly realised that in truth Anna's letter did say nothing.

"I should have thought they would have had a telegram to-day about the
luggage."

"So would I," said Sylvia. And then musingly, "I should never, never have
expected Anna Wolsky to go off like that. So--so mysteriously--"

"Well, there, I quite disagree with you! It is just what I should have
expected her to do!" exclaimed Madame Wachner. "She told me of that visit
you both made to the soothsayer. Perhaps she made up in her mind to
follow that person's advice. Our friend was a