Sylvia stared at her distrustfully. This _femme de ménage_ had a
disagreeable face; there was a cunning, avaricious look in her eyes,
or so Mrs. Bailey fancied; no doubt she remembered the couple of francs
which had been given to her, or rather extorted by her, on the occasion
of the English lady's last visit to the Châlet des Muguets.

"I will not say more," the servant went on, speaking very quickly, and
under her breath. "But I am an honest woman, and these people frighten
me. Still, I am not one to want embarrassments with the police."

And Sylvia suddenly remembered that those were exactly the words which
had been uttered by Anna Wolsky's landlady in connection with Anna's
disappearance. How frightened French people seemed to be of the police!

There came the sound of steps in the passage, and the Frenchwoman moved
away quickly from Sylvia's side. She took up the plate she had just
placed on the table, and to Sylvia's mingled disgust and amusement began
rubbing it vigorously with her elbow.

Monsieur Wachner entered the room.

"That will do, that will do, Annette," he said patronisingly. "Come here,
my good woman! Your mistress and I desire to give you a further little
gift as you have shown so much zeal to-day, so here is twenty francs."

"_Merci, M'sieur._"

Without looking again at Sylvia the woman went out of the room, and a
moment later the front door slammed behind her.