The Chink in the Armour

Sylvia Bailey. For the first time she felt as if she wa

o interesting and so exhilarating an existence as that which she was now leading! And this was perhaps owing in

d Anna Wolsky spent each day at the baccarat tables. But, unlike Anna, Sylvia was never tempted to risk a greater sum on that dangerous gr

at the Casino, and they occasionally took a walk or a drive together, but Madame Wolsky-and S

n round her. She and Monsieur Wachner-"L'Ami Fritz," as even Sylvia had fallen into the way of calling him-seemed scarcely alive unless they were sta

ow leading that brought the pretty English widow that str

d so exceptionally interesting to Sylvia Baile

ce, and in Sylvia this passion had been bau

r something always prompted Chester to act the part of candid friend, and the part of candid friend fits in very ill with that of lover. To take but one e

never quite knew what to be at, a

e their frequent meetings-their long walks and talks in the large deserted garden, their pleasant morning saun

ay into the orangery and sat down on the circular stone bench by the fountain, Sylvia would remember, deep in her heart, the first tim

hought-that he might suddenly begin making violent love to her, that he migh

respect, and he never-and this sometimes piqued Sylvia-made love to her, or attempted to flirt with her. Instead, he talked to her in that int

patient, but when Count Paul, as she had fallen into the way of calling him, made no secret o

aking casual friendships in the Gambling Rooms, and he even di

Paul would look across the baccarat table and there would c

e had never longed for anything so much in her life-to rescue her friend from what he admitted to be his terrible vice of gambling. In thi

as Madame Wachner called it-that made Sylvia so faithful an attendant at the Club; it was because when there she was still with

lay, or to the good or ill fortune which might have befallen him that day. When w

part of Sylvia's daily life at Lacville; and the people with whom she spent most of her time wer

who knew, too, how to flatter so cleverly. When with Madame Wachner Sylvia was made to feel that she was n

noon at the Casino-Madame Wachner suddenly invited Sylvia

not wish to waste as much time away from the Casino as going to the Wachners

ull, and, as she expressed it to herself, "down on her luck,

t pleasure and delight he had expressed at the thought of seeing her had given the young Engli

ed the odd, fantastic-looking Chalet des

ut, to her surprise, a piece of oilcloth now hid the parquet floor. This puzzled Sylvia, as such trifling little matters of fact often puzzle

as a bright, merry meal. There was a variety of cold

k. But L'Ami Fritz, for once looking cheerful and eager, mixed the salad, putting in ev

her first visit to the Chalet, and there he made the most excellent coffee for them all, and even Mrs. Bailey, who

ther dashed her pleasu

her usual tact, suddenly made a vi

eed Count he be? He is so arrogant, so proud, so rude! We have known him for years, have L'Ami Fritz and I, for we are always runn

playing, he does not know that other p

sh and look of embarrassment. "I used to watch him two years ago at

he is spending his life, and he hates the people who see him doing it! It is shameful to be so idle. A strong young man

lf with a heavy sigh that this was true. Madame

sound of a carriage in

up silently to obey her, she followed him out into the passage, and Sylvia, who had very quick ears, heard her say, in low, veh

ords mean? At what was

was not without private anxieties and cares? There had been something so weary as w

e was hurrying t

n, "the carriage is here! Come along-

Wachner grudged every momen

r two guests into her bed

walked over

g a little more closely about her thin shoulders. "And that wood over there-I should be afr

rightened, even if there

u must have a good deal

Wachner

t, and that, alas! is not very often-but still, when Fri

r I always carry all my money about with me.

rvants at the Villa du Lac seem to be perfectly honest-in f

ly. "You should never leave your money in the hotel; you shoul

is very room, on the occasion of Sylvia's first visit to the Chalet. "That is the way to carry

o the gate, where L'Ami Fritz received his wife wit

ylvia made no attempt to play. Somehow she did no

at last able to leave the

Comte de Virieu was just coming in as Sylvia went out; bowing distantl

spending a day with his beloved sist