The Chink in the Armour

was having luncheon with Anna

ious, and quiet. M. Polperro's clients spent, or so Sylvia supposed, much of their time in their own rooms upstairs, or else in the Casino,

rge house contained several young men who had daily work in Paris. Others, like Madame Wolsky, were at La

chner, the middle-aged couple whom Anna Wolsky had pointed out as having b

d Sylvia at the narrow table d'h?te, and again a broad, sunny smile l

and then in French, addressing Madame Wolsky, "This

hook h

leant across the table, and continued in a confidential undertone: "As for us-

villa at Aix?" said An

ir happened to us-" she sighed. "You may have heard of it?" and

ent he

bout your friend who was drowned in the lake? It must hav

never can bear

lf, saw a look of unease come over his sallow face. He was eating

ime she spoke English, "Say, 'How d'you do,' to this lady! You w

d his head, but

o us! After that we spent the winter in various pensions, and then, instead o

ccent and dropped her aitches, her

d full at Sylvia, and Sylvia told herself that the woman's face, if v

vivacious wife, at last broke into eager talk, for he and Anna Wolsky had begun to discuss different gambling systems. His face lig

as never been a system invented in connection with that devil-game, Roulette, that L'Ami Fritz does not know, and that 'e 'as not-at some time or other-played more to 'is satisfaction than to mi

e of Madame Wachner's words, but she was vaguely interested, though she

he garden, Madame, for it is not yet too 'ot for out of doors. By the way, I forgot to tell

is Bailey-S

ght so-you

via gravely, "

's face became

y, "that is sad-very sad for o

er was certainly a kindly,

dame Wachner began to amuse her companion by lively, shrewd

great deal about the world and especia

had learnt to speak English: "My 'usband,

he pretty Englishwoman, and allowing them to travel down ti

rance," answered Sylvia, "and I

dame Wachner. "In England they are too good to gamble!

for money till last week, a

urely you will

. "I suppose I shall join the Club. Y

ge 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 w

said Sylvia,

ooked at her quickly. "What

was drowned, was he not? It must have been ve

aid Madame Wachner v

kly, and Sylvia was rather sorry when it

Wolsky to the Casino while you and I take a pretty drive? I am so tired of that old

d questionin

the Casino," said Madame Wolsky, quickly, in answer to Sylvia's look. "It will do quite well if you come there

erry tone. "Then that is settled! You and I will take a dr

end upstairs while Anna put on

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 Englis

ey 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 nothing to be done here at all, Sophie! It is f

s there is nothing to be done! You see, 'e is tired of 'is last system, and 'e 'as not yet invented another. But, bah! I

, in a better-humoured tone. "It will be here in three or four minutes. Sha

r, harshly, "certainly not

ere is no need at all for us to take you out of your way. Y

, gaunt, morose companion, walking, while Sylvia an

ttle open carriage was rather creaky, and the horse was old

t grotesque in appearance though she was, po

afternoon in the Casino, the older woman set herself to please and amuse Sylvia. She thoroughly succeeded. A clever gossip, she seemed to know a great deal about

ew acquaintance a great deal about her childhood and girlhood-something even of her brief, not unhappy, married life. But she shrank back, b

Sylvia sho

st week, but I saw you, and I said to my 'usband, 'There is a very beautiful person come to Lacville, Fritz!' 'E laughed at me. 'Now you will be satisfied-now you will 'ave something to look at,' 'e sa

nd time she had a

blushing, "but of course I do not wa

heir good money." She looked inquiringly at Sylvia. "But, there," she sighed-her fat face became very g

tance all about the tragic death by drowning of her and her husband's friend at Aix-l

thing! We were devoted to this young Russian friend of ours. He and Fritz worked an excellent system together-the best Fritz

en?" said Sylvia

er once again broke i

the unfortunate one, but 'e could not swim. You can imagine my sensations? I was in a summer-'ouse, trembling with fright. Thunder, lightning, rain, storm, all round! Sudden

almost as if she saw the scene she was describing-nay, as if she saw the pal

e they found him?" ask

ry thing-Sasha's body was never found! Many people thought the money 'e 'ad on 'is person weighed 'im dow

said

ll there was a good deal more than was found in 'is bed-room. That, of c

family got it in th

erson in the police; but for that we might 'ave 'ad much worry"-she shook her head. "They were so much annoyed that poor Sasha 'ad no passport. But, as I said to them-for Fritz quite lost 'is 'ead

that eager, inquiring look which demands an

urprised. "No, indeed! I've never even

to be identified. It gives your address at 'ome. But I do not think that you can get one now-no, it is a thing that one

sked Sylvia. "Are you French? I s

hner shook

se! As for me, I am"-she waited a moment-"well, Madame, I am what the Frenc