Bailey. In Paris Mr. Chester found news making her return home to England
to-morrow a matter of imperative necessity."

He waited a moment, then added, raising his voice as he spoke: "We have
proof that she is spending the evening with you," and he walked on
quickly to where he supposed the front door to be.

"If they deny she is there," he whispered to his companion, "we will
shout for the gendarmes and break in. But I doubt if they will dare to
deny she is there unless--unless--"

He had hoped to hear Sylvia's voice, but Madame Wachner had shut the
window, and a deathly silence reigned in the villa.

The two men stood in front of the closed door for what seemed to them a
very long time. It was exactly two minutes; and when at last the door
opened, slowly, and revealed the tall, lanky figure of L'Ami Fritz, they
both heard the soft, shuffling tread of the gendarmes closing in round
the house.

"I pray you to come in," said Monsieur Wachner in English, and then,
addressing Bill Chester,

"I am pleased to see you, sir, the more so that your friend, Mrs. Bailey,
is indisposed. A moment ago, to our deep concern, she found herself quite
faint--no doubt from the heat. I will conduct you, gentlemen, into the
drawing-room; my wife and Mrs. Bailey will join us there in a minute,"
and only then did he move back sufficiently to allow the two men to cross
the threshold.