wife uttered an involuntary exclamation of surprise and displeasure.

"What are you doing here?" asked Madame Wachner harshly. There was a note
of dismay, as well as of anger, in her voice.

The woman began to excuse herself volubly. "I thought I might be of some
use, Madame. I thought I might help you with all the last details."

"There was no necessity--none at all--for doing anything of the kind,"
said her mistress, in a low, quick voice. "You had been paid! You had had
your present! However, as you _are_ here, you may as well lay a third
place in the dining-room, for, as you see, we have brought Madame Bailey
back to have a little supper. She will only stay a very few moments, as
she has to be at the Villa du Lac by ten o'clock."

The woman turned and threw open the door of the dining-room. Then she
struck a match, and lighted a lamp which stood on the table.

Sylvia, as is often the case with those who have been much thrown with
French people, could understand French much better than she could speak
it, and what Madame Wachner had just hissed out in rapid, mumbling tones,
surprised and puzzled her.

It was quite untrue that she, Sylvia, had to be back at the Villa du Lac
by ten o'clock--for the matter of that, she could stay out as long and as
late as she liked.

Then, again, although the arrangement that she should come to supper
at the Châlet des Muguets to-night had been made that afternoon, the
Wachners had been home, but they had evidently forgotten to tell their