slip of paper and handed it to her, instantly
turning his whole attention to something else in the way he had when a
matter was concluded. It was exactly like shutting a door in one's
face, she thought with rueful amusement. In another minute she had
left the house and was on her way back to her hotel.

In the little lobby she met Miss Paull, just drawing on a pair of black
gloves preparatory to setting off on a ramble.

"And what are you doing here at this hour?" she greeted Esther
cheerfully, curiously beaming in every line of her rather noble face.

Esther explained hurriedly.

"How extremely odd! The very people we were discussing the other day.
And you say your doctor is giving up his entire practice to devote
himself to Sir Charles? They _must_ have money to burn. I wonder what
you will think of them. I wonder if the son is there? Such a
nice-looking boy he was. I used to see him often. And the beautiful
French wife--you must tell me what she is like, to know, that is. Of
course she _looks_ like something on the films, doesn't she?"

Esther assented, anxious to get away.

"I should like to know what she was doing in that dirty little
jeweller's shop, going into the back room and all," mused the spinster
regretfully. "Well--good luck to you!"

Esther smiled to herself as she got into the tiny lift. Miss Paull
extracted so much enjoyment out of life from inventing mysteries out of
simple things. What a pity she could not be in her, Esther's, place!
What capital she would have made out of her opportunities!

It was with a slight feeling of excitement that two hours later she
toiled in a creaking taxi up to the steep streets of Cannes, her
hat-box and neat dressing-bag reposing on the seat beside her, her
small trunk in front. What luck, she reflected, to have brought her
uniforms along! She had not really thought she would need them. A
thin rain fell, but the sky showed signs of breaking, and the raindrops
sparkled on the thick green foliage of the trees and added beauty to
the feathery sprays of mimosa wherever it raised its yellow plumage.
The town left behind, villa after villa came into view, many
half-hidden in greenery. The drive seemed a longish one, but of course
a good car would have done it in half the time....

How strange to think that the very first woman who had in any way
impressed her in Cannes should now be employing her to nurse her
husband! It was a good thing Lady Clif