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Lowndes, Marie Adelaide Belloc, 1868-1947

"The Chink in the Armour"


The fact that Madame Wolsky thought so ill of the Comte de Virieu made
Sylvia feel uncomfortable all through dinner. But the Count, though he
again bowed when the two friends came into the dining-room, did not come
over and speak to them, as Sylvia had felt sure he would do this evening.
After dinner he disappeared, and Sylvia took Anna out into the garden.
But she did not show her the _potager_. The old kitchen-garden already
held for her associations which she did not wish to spoil or even to
disturb.
Madame Wolsky, sipping M. Polperro's excellent coffee, again mentioned
the Count.
"I am exceedingly surprised to see him here at Lacville," she said in a
musing voice, "I should have expected him to go to a more _chic_ place.
He always plays in the winter at Monte Carlo."
Sylvia summoned up courage to protest.
"But, Anna," she exclaimed, "surely the Comte de Virieu is only doing
what a great many other people do!"
Anna laughed good-humouredly.
"I see what you mean," she said. "You think it is a case of 'the pot
calling the kettle black.' How excellent are your English proverbs, dear
Sylvia! But no, it is quite different.


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