is fact had enlisted to a special degree Madame Wachner's interest and
liking for the two young widows.

Sylvia rang the primitive bell which hung by the door which alone gave
access, apart from the windows, to the Chalet des Muguets.

After some moments the day-servant employed by Madame Wachner opened the
door with the curt words, "Monsieur and Madame are in Paris." The woman
added, in a rather insolent tone, "They have gone to fetch some money,"
and her manner said plainly enough, "Yes, my master and mistress--silly
fools--have lost their money at the Casino, and now they are gone to get
fresh supplies!"

Sylvia felt vexed and disappointed. After what had been to her a very
exciting, agitating conversation with Count Paul, she had unconsciously
longed for the cheerful, commonplace talk of Madame Wachner.

As she stood there in the bright sunlight the thought of the long,
lonely, hot walk back to the Villa du Lac became odious to her.

Why should she not go into the house and rest awhile? The more so that
the Wachners would almost certainly return home very soon. They disliked
Paris, and never stayed more than a couple of hours on their occasional
visits there.

In her careful, rather precise French, she told the servant she would
come in and wait.

"I am sure that Madame Wachner would wish me to do so," she said,
smiling; and after a rather ungracious pause the woman admitted her into
the house, leading the way into the darkened dining-room.

"Do you think it will be long before Madame Wachner comes back?" asked
Sylvia.

The woman hesitated--"I cannot tell you that," she mumbled. "They never
say when they are going, or when they will be back. They are very odd
people!"

She bustled out of the room for a few moments and then came back, holding
a big cotton parasol in her hand.

"I do not know if Madame wishes to stay on here by herself? As for me,
I must go now, for my work is done. Perhaps when Madame leaves the house
she will put the key under the mat."

"Yes, if I leave the house before my friends return home I will certainly
do so. But I expect Madame Wachner will be here before long."

Sylvia spoke shortly. She did not like the day-servant's independent,
almost rude way of speaking.

"Should the master and mistress come back before Madame has left, will
Madame kindly explain that she _insisted_ on coming into the house? I am
absolutely forbidden to admit visitors unless Madame Wachner is here to