The Chink in the Armour

s. Bailey was sitting and then he looked away, and, unfolding his tabl

hmen, or perhaps it would be more true to say Parisians, stare at a pretty woman in the streets, in omnibuses, and in shops. As for

t feeling either uncomfortably or amusingly aware of a steady, unwinki

ls, and he wore rather bright pink socks and a pink tie to match. He must be, she decided, something of a dandy. Though still a young man, he w

d eggs or an omelette?" he asked obsequiously, and "M. le Comte" lifted his h

f the French Duke mentioned by M. Girard. He spoke to the

came over to where Sylvia was sitting. "Would Madame like to have

seen! The smooth, wide lawn was shaded with noble cedars and bright green chestnut trees; it was

like all clever hotel-keepers the Southerner had the gift of making those who were

ro and I would be!" he exclaimed. "I have a beautiful room overlooking the lake which

if she would like to come and stay in the Villa du Lac. "But I am going to Switzer

?" asked M. Polpe

play bridge-all English people play bridge-but I have

utiful walks, the lovely lake, and the many other attractions we have to offer! Why, Madame, think of the Forest of Montmorency? In old days it was quite a drive

n, and then, rather regretfully, she went up the lichen-covered steps

had been, and then slowly made her way out of the Villa du Lac, down acr

ing people who passed her laughing and talking together, and the more silent couples who floated by on the water

cville chimed out the hour-it was on

to her? Yes, for it was the young man who had shared with

er, as even the good-humoured bourgeois with whom she had travelled from Paris that morning had done, the Count-she

d of her not to have thought of it! And so, after waiting a moment, she also joined th

e hall of the Casino of Lacville. An eager attendant rushed forward

raight to the Room of the

was there, or so she supp

ly-decorated vestibule, and so into a large room, overlooking the lake, w

conservatory-like apartment, looking, indeed,

ent on the table, and on the game being played thereon-a game, it may be mentioned, which has a

to exciting a good deal of attention wherever she went in France, but here, at Lacville, everyone seemed blind to her presence. It

le, keeping well outside the various circ

not among them. Of that fact

Madame want a seat?" he asked officiously. "If so,

ok her head. She certainl

friend," she said, hesitatingl

isconsolate and disappointed, when suddenly, in the vestibule, she saw

he time I arrive the card of membership will be ready for me? This kind of thing"-she waved her hand towards the large r

ed as if she had made a good j

lvi

nn

other was not particularly

n, Sylvia Bailey, in such a place as the Casino of Lacville?" said the Polish lady laughin

the Salle des Jeux, and Anna drew

rstand how all these clever Parisians can care to come out here and los

Sylvia. She thought she saw a great deal of money being won,

e just been arranging, with the aid of the owner of the Pensio

hat Sylvia did not un

almost every Casino in France. There is this game, which is, as I say, a child's

ited a

Sylvia que

e Club, there is never such a crowd in the Baccarat Room as there is here. And those who belong to the Club 'mean busin

cheeks; she looked exhilarated, excited at th

ene presented by this crowd of eager men and women, each and all absorbed in this my

se crowd of people, the middle-aged man who had been with Ann

ership card. May I have the pleasure of taking you myself to the C

e softened. He had your true Frenchman's pleasure i

nswered Ann

look on for a few moments, even tho

, into a part of the Casino where the very atmosphere seem

hushed and quiet, and und

s who were broken up into groups, and talking with one another in the intimate, desultor

hat among them, but standing a little apar

k of surprise, almost of annoyance, flitted over his impa

oom, pulled a large turnip watch out of his pocket. "It is nearly half-past one!" h

e Comte de Virieu

surprised indeed had she been told that the best account of it ever written is that which describes it as "neither a recreation

nd listened, it must be admitted, uncomprehendingly, to the mysterious words which told how the game was going. Still she sympathised ver

sing the seats which

the green cloth, saw the eyes of the m

stomed-his glance was far more thoughtful, questioning, and in a sense kindly. But his eyes seemed to pierce her through

ous of that piercing gaze turned on her, and with some surpri

e; his face was tanned, his blue eyes were very bright, and the hands dealing out the cards were well-shaped

und, so as to avoid

Sylvia Bailey's senses. She began to understand the at once very simple and, to the uninitiated, intricate

her purse, and she ach

put down ten francs?"

, and exclaimed, "Yes

piece, and a moment later

rmured Anna, "and

ice, and a larger gold piece was

francs with a curious

of the liveried men-servants stepped forward. "Has Ma

rd of membership-and there had been an implied und

Bailey-and the gold pieces she held in her hand, for she h

arter. The Count rose from the table. He said a few wo

all good luck! This is probably her first and her last visit to Lacville." He smil

as won a little more! Do not give

piqued, and Madame Wolsky stared at him rather hau

aid stiffly. "But I think we ha

and agai

drive, Sylvia. We have

d many were the curious glances

ot suppose you will ever come here again. And, as I shall spend most of my time

building, Sylvia feeling oppressed, almost

iled one of the little open carriages which

Wolsky to the driver, "and then you will take us

and chalets, they drove all round the lake, and more and more the place

rosperous, gay, and without a care in the world; and where in the morning there had been one boat

to the Casino. A steady stream of people was

will be crammed to suffocation within an hour, and even the Club will be well filled, though I fancy the regular habitués of the club are rather apt to avoid Saturday and Sunday at Lacville

something of her advent

ake a walk every day, and that will be a very good thing. Last time I was at Monte Carlo I had a lodging right up in Monaco, and I found that a very much healthier plan than to live clos

, and were driving through leafy avenues which remind

us-looking as those that bordered the lake, but still many of them were prett

s here in the winter!"

that all the flowers were of the bedding-out varieties; there were luxuriant creepers, but not a

a summer Concession; it cannot open till April 15. Of course there are people who will tell you that Lacville is the

plain, white house, across which was painted i

Anna. "Would you care to come in and see t

was clear that it had once been a handsome private mansion standing in large grounds of its own. The garden, however,

an attempt had been made to make it look pretty

een with Anna at the Casino, now came forward in the hall, and Sylvi

come and stay with us too? I have a charming room which I could give this lady; but later on we shall be very full-full

king woman who was sitting in a little glas

to see our Pension!" he exclaimed, "and pe

ade to go all over the large, rather gloomy house,

ought it singularly cheerless. There was, however, a good arm-chair and a writing-tabl

. Malfait, "and she bought that table and left it to me as a lit

led them proudly into the dining-room, with its one long table, running down the middle, on which at intervals were set des

very select and chic. Those of my guests wh

the Villa du Lac apparently saw eye to eye. Both were eager to dissociate themselves from the ordi

might as well go on driving for about an hour, and then, when it is a

drove his fares away from the town, and so to the very outskirts of Lacville,

be all the same to me, I should always find work elsewhere. But it makes everyone eager to sell-those, I mean, who have land at Lacville. There are others," continued the man-he had turned round on his seat, and the horse was going at a foot's pace-"who declare that i

had not been given to her that morning, contained the news that the English friends whom she had been ex