The Chink in the Armour

and at last the coachman, turning round on

t very far from the Chalet des Muguets, and I 'ave some excellent tea there. We will 'ave a

ndeed, she did think it very kind. It would be pleasant

w experience, however trifling, and she

s," called out Madame

d turned his

roads, cut through what had evidently been, not s

ed Madame Wachner in French. "I am told that land here has nearly

ul woods," said Sylvia regretfully, remembering w

I do not care for scenery-no, not a

palings lay a large, straggling, and untidy garden, relieved from absolute ugliness by some high fore

wondered very much what the inside of the funny little villa she saw before her would be like. In any case, th

torey building, standing far higher than any bungalo

s, which in their turn were broken at intervals by large blue china lozenges, on which were p

the heat, for the sun beat down pitilessly on the little house, a

made so pretty with a little care, in such a state of neglect and untidiness. Even the path le

pleased with her temporary home, and

English, and smiling broadly. "And only one th

ation. Forty pounds? Yes, she suppo

rom the town. She comes each morning, cooks what I want, and does the 'ousework. Often we 'ave our déjeuner out and dine at 'ome, or we d

ley's surprise and amusement, lifted a corner of the shabby outside mat, and took from under it a k

hall, so bare indeed that there was no

r and opened a door which

proudly. "Walk in, Madame. It is '

solutely nothing for some moments, for she was blinded by the sudden change from

rather the little there was to be seen-and s

than plainly furnished;

t the wall, and of a walnut-wood buffet, on the shelves of which stood no plates, or ornaments of any descripti

Madame Wachner. "And now I will

d so to the left into the short passage w

y or even convenient. There was a small sofa, covered with cheap tapestry, and four uncomfortable-looking chairs to match; on

at they were very little lived in. But then, o

tea," said Madame

making tea-every Englishwoman loves making tea." She had no wis

it not get 'urt in the kitchen?" c

he bright, clean little kitchen, of which t

estly praise, and the kitchen was, in truth, the pleasantest place in the house, exquisitely neat, with t

enough. But, oh, those French people, how eager they are for money! Do y

ettle, and lighting a spirit lamp. Then, going to a cup

te the kitchen window, she saw that beyond the small piece of garden which lay at the back of the

belong to you,

hner shook

said, "that

said Sylvia, musingly, "you do not seem to hav

Wachner quickly. "But we are not nervous people-and then

in the house if they gambled as much as Anna Wolsky said they did. Her hostess c

ficantly. "As to our money, I will show you where we keep it. Come into my bed-room; per

passage, and so into a large bed-room, which l

asantest room in the Chalet des Muguets, and that although, lik

be seen. Madame Wachner's clothes hung on pegs behind the door,

d very comfortable, and ther

her guest the bath-r

the acme of domestic luxury. "My 'usband will never allow me to take a 'ouse that has no bath-room. 'E is

l many French houses with

, "the French are not a clean peop

in that box?" said Sylvia, lo

This is whe

hung round her capacious waist were a number of little wash-leather bags. "My money is all 'er

was boiling, and Sylvia made the tea, Mad

or ourselves. And now go into the dining-room, a

"why should we not drink our t

d at her doubtf

ourse!" cr

-bottomed chairs to t

chner's hospitality. The drive and the great heat had m

e carriage is there," sa

ay, Sylvia looked round

as clear that they hardly used the dining-room and drawing-room of the little villa at all. When Sylvia had been looking for the butter, she had not been able to help seeing that in the tiny larder there

be cross! Do you know that absurd man actually still thinks 'e is master, and yet we 'ave been married-oh, I d

fully locking the door and hiding the key w

ld not hel

served. "Just think how easy it would

ys carry our money about with us," said Madame Wachner. She added in a se