at Aix--my 'usband and I. It seems so strange that there
we never spoke to 'er, and that now we seem to know 'er already so
much better than we did in all the weeks we were together at Aix! But
there"--she sighed a loud, heaving sigh--"we 'ad a friend--a dear young
friend--with us at Aix-les-Bains."

"Yes, I know," said Sylvia, sympathisingly.

"You know?" Madame Wachner looked at her quickly. "What is it that you
know, Madame?"

"Madame Wolsky told me about it. Your friend was drowned, was he not? It
must have been very sad and dreadful for you and your husband."

"It was terrible!" said Madame Wachner vehemently. "Terrible!"

* * * * *

The hour in the garden sped by very quickly, and Sylvia was rather sorry
when it came to be time to start for the Casino.

"Look here!" cried Madame Wachner suddenly. "Why should not L'Ami Fritz
escort Madame Wolsky to the Casino while you and I take a pretty drive?
I am so tired of that old Casino--and you will be so tired of it soon,
too!" she exclaimed in an aside to Sylvia.

Sylvia looked questioningly at Anna.

"Yes, do take a drive, dear. You have plenty of time, for I intend to
spend all this afternoon and evening at the Casino," said Madame Wolsky,
quickly, in answer to Sylvia's look. "It will do quite well if you come
there after you have had your tea. My friend will never go without her
afternoon tea;" she turned to Madame Wachner.

"I, too, love afternoon tea!" cried Madame Wachner, in a merry tone.
"Then that is settled! You and I will take a drive, and then we will 'ave
tea and then go to the Casino."

Mrs. Bailey accompanied her friend upstairs while Anna put on her things
and got out her money.

"You will enjoy a drive on this hot day, even with that funny old woman,"
said Madame Wolsky, affectionately. "And meanwhile I will get your
membership card made out for the Club. If you like to do so, you might
have a little gamble this evening. But I do not want my sweet English
friend to become as fond of play as I am myself"--there crept a sad note
into her voice. "However, I do not think there is any fear of that!"

When the two friends came downstairs again, they found Monsieur and
Madame Wachner standing close together and speaking in a low voice. As
she came nearer to them Sylvia saw that they were so absorbed in each
other that they did not see her, and she heard the man saying in a low,
angry voice, in French: "There is not