Madame Wachner was certainly a kindly, warm-hearted sort
of woman.
They walked out together into the narrow garden, and soon Madame Wachner
began to amuse her companion by lively, shrewd talk, and they spent a
pleasant half hour pacing up and down.
The Wachners seemed to have travelled a great deal about the world and
especially in several of the British Colonies.
It was in New Zealand that Madame Wachner had learnt to speak English:
"My 'usband, 'e was in business there," she said vaguely.
"And you?" she asked at last, fixing her piercing eyes on the pretty
Englishwoman, and allowing them to travel down till they rested on the
milky row of perfectly-matched pearls.
"Oh, this is my first visit to France," answered Sylvia, "and I am
enjoying it very much indeed."
"Then you 'ave not gambled for money yet?" observed Madame Wachner. "In
England they are too good to gamble!" She spoke sarcastically, but Sylvia
did not know that.
"I never in my life played for money till last week, and then I won
thirty francs!"
"Ah! Then now surely you will join the Club?"
"Yes," said Sylvia a little awkwardly.
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