seemed to be by his departure. She actually
tried to keep the Count from going back to the Club.

"Aren't you coming to the Villa du Lac? It's getting very late," she
said, in a tone of deep disappointment.

But he, bowing, answered, "No, Madame; it is impossible." He waited a
moment, then muttered, "I have promised to take the Bank in a quarter
of an hour."

Sylvia turned away. Tears had sprung to her eyes. But Chester saw nothing
of her agitation, and a moment later they were all four out in the kindly
darkness.

CHAPTER XX

Even to Chester there was something grateful in the sudden stillness in
which he and the three others found themselves on leaving the Casino.

"Not a very safe issue out of a place where people carry about such a lot
of money!" he exclaimed, as they made their way up the rough little lane.
"One could half-throttle anyone here, and have a very good chance of
getting off!"

"Oh, Lacville is a very safe place!" answered Madame Wachner, laughing
her jovial laugh. "Still, considering all the money made by the Casino,
it is too bad they 'aven't made a more splendid--what do you call it--?"

"--Approach," said L'Ami Fritz, in his deep voice, and Chester turned,
rather surprised. It was the first word he had heard Monsieur Wachner
utter.

Sylvia was trying hard to forget Count Paul and his broken promise, and
to be her natural self.

As they emerged into the better-lighted thoroughfare, where stood a row
of carriages, she said, "I will drive with you to the Pension Malfait,
Bill."

Madame Wachner officiously struck in, "Do not think of driving your
friend to the Pension Malfait, dear friend! We will gladly leave Mr.
Chester there. But if 'e does not mind we will walk there; it is too fine
a night for driving."

"But how about your luggage?" said Sylvia, anxiously. "Has your luggage
gone on to the Pension?"

"Yes," said Chester, shortly. "Your landlord very kindly said he would
see to its being sent on."

They were now close to the Villa du Lac. "Of course, I shall expect you
to lunch to-morrow," said Sylvia. "Twelve o'clock is the time. You'll
want a good rest after your long day."

And then Chester started off with his two strange companions. How very
unlike this evening had been to what he had pictured it would be! Years
before, as a boy, he had spent a week at a primitive seaside hotel near
Dieppe. He had thought Lacville would be like that. He had imagined
himself arrivin