ch she had in common with the English lawyer. She only
touched on the delightful time she had had in Paris, and she said nothing
of Lacville.

Long before the others had finished, Count Paul got up; before leaving
the dining-room, he turned and bowed ceremoniously to Sylvia and her
companion. With his disappearance it seemed to Chester that Sylvia at
once became her natural, simple, eager, happy self. She talked less, she
listened more, and at last Chester began to enjoy his holiday.

They went out again into the garden, and the wide lawn, with its shaded
spaces of deep green, was a delicious place in which to spend a quiet,
idle hour. They sat down and drank their coffee under one of the cedars
of Lebanon.

"This is a very delightful, curious kind of hotel," he said at last. "And
I confess that now I understand why you like Lacville. But I do wonder a
little, Sylvia"--he looked at her gravely--"that you enjoy going to that
Casino."

"You see, there's so very little else to do here!" she exclaimed,
deprecatingly. "And then, after all, Bill, I don't see what harm there
is in risking one's money if one can afford to do so!"

He shook his head at her--playfully, but seriously too. "Don't you?" he
asked dryly.

"Why, there's Madame Wachner," said Sylvia suddenly, and Chester thought
there was a little touch of relief in her voice.

"Madame Wachner?" And then the Englishman, gazing at the stout, squat
figure which was waddling along the grass towards them, remembered.

This was the good lady who had been so kind to him the night before; nay,
who had actually offered to give him a bed if the Pension Malfait had
been closed.

"We 'ave lunched in the town," she said, partly addressing Chester, "and
so I thought I would come and ask you, Madame Sylvia, whether you and
your friend will come to tea at the Villa des Muguets to-day?" She fixed
her bright little eyes on Sylvia's face.

Sylvia looked at Chester; she was smiling; he thought she would like him
to accept.

"That is very kind of you," he said cordially.

Sylvia nodded her head gaily: "You are more than kind, dear Madame
Wachner," she exclaimed. "We shall be delighted to come! I thought of
taking Mr. Chester a drive through the Forest of Montmorency. Will it do
if we are with you about five?"

"Yes," said Madame Wachner.

And then, to Chester's satisfaction, she turned and went away. "I cannot
stay now," she said, "for l'Ami Fritz is waiting for me. 'E do