"Yes, miss. We're all going by the seven o'clock train. It's a long
way from here to Paris; we shall only reach it at nine in the
morning. That will give us just time to get the house ready for you
by the time you get there to-morrow evening," said Alfred.

"Is everything packed?"

"Yes, miss--everything. The cart has already taken the heavy luggage
to the station. All you'll have to do is to see after your bags."

"That's all right. Show M. du Buit and his brother in," said
Germaine.

She moved to a chair near the window, and disposed herself in an
attitude of studied, and obviously studied, grace.

As she leant her head at a charming angle back against the tall back
of the chair, her eyes fell on the window, and they opened wide.

"Why, whatever's this?" she cried, pointing to it.

"Whatever's what?" said Sonia, without raising her eyes from the
envelope she was addressing.

"Why, the window. Look! one of the panes has been taken out. It
looks as if it had been cut."

"So it has--just at the level of the fastening," said Sonia. And the
two girls stared at the gap.