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Updated: May 19, 2025
Still, she accompanied the others to the Club, and together with Madame Wachner, she sat down some way from the tables. In a very few minutes they were joined by the other two, who had by now lost quite enough gold pieces to make them both feel angry with themselves, and, what was indeed unfair, with poor Sylvia.
It is shameful to be so idle. A strong young man doing nothing, living on charity, so they say! And he despises all those who do what he himself is not ashamed to do." And Sylvia, looking across at her, said to herself with a heavy sigh that this was true. Madame Wachner had summed up Count Paul very accurately. At last there came the sound of a carriage in the quiet lane outside. "Fritz!
Sylvia reminded herself that the Wachners must surely have a good deal of money in the house if they gambled as much as Anna Wolsky said they did. Her hostess could not keep it all in the little bag which she always carried hung on her wrist. And then, as if Madame Wachner had seen straight into her mind, the old woman said significantly. "As to our money, I will show you where we keep it.
The country immediately round Lacville is not pretty; the little open carriage was rather creaky, and the horse was old and tired, and yet Sylvia Bailey enjoyed her drive very much. Madame Wachner, common-looking, plain, almost grotesque in appearance though she was, possessed that rare human attribute, vitality.
A clever gossip, she seemed to know a great deal about all sorts of interesting people, and she gave Sylvia an amusing account of Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, whose splendid château they saw from their little carriage. Madame Wachner also showed the most sympathetic interest in Sylvia and Sylvia's past life.
'E is very clean about 'imself" she spoke as if it was a fact to be proud of, and Sylvia could not help smiling. "I suppose there are still many French houses without a bath-room," she said. "Yes," said Madame Wachner quickly, "the French are not a clean people," she shook her head scornfully. "I suppose you keep your money in that box?" said Sylvia, looking at the brass-bound trunk. "No, indeed!
I gathered that impression the only time I talked to your Madame Wachner about the matter. I felt sure she knew more than she would say! Of course, it was only an impression." Sylvia hesitated. "At first Madame Wachner seemed annoyed that I made a fuss about it," she said thoughtfully. "But later she seemed as surprised and sorry as I am myself.
Soon they were making their way along newly-made roads, cut through what had evidently been, not so very long before, a great stretch of forest land. "The good people of Lacville are in a hurry to make money," observed Madame Wachner in French. "I am told that land here has nearly trebled in value the last few years, though houses are still cheap."
Both rooms gave Sylvia a strange impression that they were very little lived in. But then, of course, the Wachners were very little at home. "And now I will get tea," said Madame Wachner triumphantly. "Will you not let me help you?" asked Sylvia, timidly. "I love making tea every Englishwoman loves making tea." She had no wish to be left in this dull, ugly little drawing-room by herself.
As I tell you, we always carry our money about with us," said Madame Wachner. She added in a serious tone, "and I should advise you to do so too, my dear young friend." A quarter of an hour's sharp driving brought Sylvia and Madame Wachner to the door of the Casino. They found Madame Wolsky in the hall waiting for them.
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