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Updated: June 24, 2025
She longed to be away from this still, empty house, and yet it seemed absurd to leave just as the Wachners would be returning home. After a few more minutes, however, the quietude, and the having absolutely nothing to do with which to wile away the time, affected Sylvia's nerves. It was, after all, quite possible that the Wachners intended to wait in Paris till the heat of the day was over.
There, actually lying open before her, between two leaves of the little note-book, was a letter signed by Anna Wolsky! It was a short note, in French, apparently an answer to one Madame Wachner had sent reminding her of her engagement. It was odd that the Wachners had said nothing of this note, for it made Anna's conduct seem stranger than ever.
The more so that the Wachners would almost certainly return home very soon. They disliked Paris, and never stayed more than a couple of hours on their occasional visits there. In her careful, rather precise French, she told the servant she would come in and wait.
"But I thought I had told you how distressed they are about it? How they waited for her last evening and how she never came? Oh no, the Wachners know nothing," declared Sylvia confidently. There is something very bewildering and distressing in the sudden disappearance or even the absence of a human being to whose affectionate and constant presence one has become accustomed.
Chester, that the Wachners are blackmailers. I am convinced that they discovered something to that poor lady's discredit, and after making her pay drove her away! Just before she left Lacville they were trying to raise money at the Casino money-changer's on some worthless shares. But after Madame Wolsky's disappearance they had plenty of gold and notes." Chester looked across at his companion.
"But I confess I deserved it this time! Joking apart, I think 'L'Ami Fritz' is very fond of his" he hesitated, then ended his sentence with "Old Dutch!" Sylvia could not help smiling. "It is too bad of you," she exclaimed, "to talk like that! The Wachners are very nice people, and I won't allow you to say anything against them!" Somehow they were friends again. His next words proved it.
"I have done it in six minutes!" The horse was suddenly brought up short opposite the white gate. Was this where the Wachners lived? Chester stooped down. The place looked very different now from what it had looked in the daylight. The windows of the small, low house were closely shuttered, but where the shutters met in one of the rooms glinted a straight line of light. "We are in time.
She was astonished that the Wachners should have mentioned the matter to this disagreeable, inquisitive person. "The lady stopped here on her way to the station. She seemed in very high spirits." "Oh, no, you are quite mistaken," said Sylvia quickly. "Madame Wolsky did not come here at all the day she left Lacville. She was expected, both to tea and to supper, but she did not arrive "
After their drive she and Anna might call on the Wachners and offer to take them to the Casino; and with the thought of the Wachners there came over Sylvia a regret that the Comte de Virieu was so fastidious. He seemed to detest the Wachners! When he met them at the Casino, the most he would do was to incline his head coldly towards them.
In Sylvia Bailey's eyes the queer little place lacked all the elements which go to make a home; and, sitting there, in that airless, darkened dining-room, she wondered, not for the first time, why the Wachners chose to live in such a comfortless way. She glanced round her with distaste. Everything was not only cheap, but common and tawdry.
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