dotted about on the broad green lawn and sanded paths.

One or two of the ladies spoke a kindly word to Sylvia as they passed by
her, but each had a friend or friends, and she was once more feeling
lonely and deserted when suddenly Count Paul de Virieu walked across to
where she was sitting by herself.

Again he clicked his heels together, and again he bowed low. But already
Sylvia was getting used to these strange foreign ways, and she no longer
felt inclined to laugh; in fact, she rather liked the young Frenchman's
grave, respectful manner.

"If, as I suppose, Madame, seeing that you have come back to Lacville--"

Sylvia looked up with surprise painted on her fair face, for the Count
was speaking in English, and it was extremely good, almost perfect
English.

"--and you wish to join the Club at the Casino, I hope, Madame, that you
will allow me to have the honour of proposing you as a member."

He waited a moment, and then went on: "It is far better for a lady to be
introduced by someone who is already a member, than for the affair to be
managed"--he slightly lowered his voice--"by an hotel keeper. I am well
known to the Casino authorities. I have been a member of the Club for
some time--"

He stood still gazing thoughtfully down into her face.

"But I am not yet sure that I shall join the Club," said Sylvia,
hesitatingly.

He looked--was it relieved or sorry?

"I beg your pardon, Madame! I misunderstood. I thought you told M.
Polperro just now in the dining-room that you were going to the Casino
this evening."

Sylvia felt somewhat surprised. It was odd that he should have overheard
her words to M. Polperro, amid all the chatter of their fellow-guests.

"Yes, I am going to the Casino," she said frankly, "but only to meet a
friend of mine there, the lady with whom I was the other day when you so
kindly interfered to save us, or rather to save _me_, from being
ignominiously turned out of the Club." And then she added, a little
shyly, "Won't you sit down?"

Again the Comte de Virieu bowed low before her, and then he sat down.

"I fear you will not be allowed to go into the Club this time unless you
become a member. They have to be very strict in these matters; to allow a
stranger in the Club at all is a legal infraction. The Casino authorities
might be fined for doing so."

"How well you speak English!" exclaimed Sylvia, abruptly and
irrelevantly.

"I was at school in England," he said, simply, "at