both a welcome diversion.

"_Ma jolie Sylvie!_ Will you not introduce me to your friend?"

Madame Wachner had elbowed her way through the crowd to where Chester and
Mrs. Bailey were standing. Her husband lagged a little way behind, his
eyes still following the play. Indeed, even as his wife spoke L'Ami Fritz
made a note in the little book he held in his hand. When in the Baccarat
Room he was absolutely absorbed in the play going on. Nothing could
really distract him from it.

Sylvia felt and looked relieved.

"Oh, Bill," she exclaimed, "let me introduce you to Madame Wachner? She
has been very kind to me since I came to Lacville."

"I am enchanted to meet you, sir. We 'oped to see you at dinner."

Chester bowed. She had a pleasant voice, this friend of Sylvia's, and she
spoke English well, even if she did drop her aitches!

"It is getting rather late"--Chester turned to Sylvia, but he spoke quite
pleasantly.

"Yes, we must be going; are you staying on?" Sylvia was addressing the
woman she had just introduced to Chester, but her eyes were wandering
towards the gambling table. Perhaps she had suddenly remembered her five
louis.

Chester smiled a little grimly to himself. He wondered if Sylvia would be
surprised to hear that her neighbour, the fair Frenchman to whom she had
been talking so familiarly, had "collared" her stakes and her winnings.

"No, indeed! We, too, must be going 'ome. Come, Fritz, it is getting
late." The devoted wife spoke rather crossly. They all four turned, and
slowly walked down the room.

Sylvia instinctively fell behind, keeping step with Monsieur Wachner,
while Chester and Madame Wachner walked in front.

The latter had already taken the measure of the quiet, stolid-looking
Englishman. She had seen him long before Sylvia had done so, and had
watched him with some attention, guessing almost at once that he must
be the man for whom Mrs. Bailey had waited dinner.

"I suppose that this is your first visit to Lacville?" she observed
smiling. "Very few of your countrymen come 'ere, sir, but it is an
interesting and curious place--more really curious than is Monte Carlo."

She lowered her voice a little, but Chester heard her next words very
clearly.

"It is not a proper place for our pretty friend, but--ah! she loves
play now! The Polish lady, Madame Wolsky, was also a great lover of
baccarat; but now she 'as gone away. And so, when Mrs. Bailey come 'ere,
like this, at night, my 'usb