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Lowndes, Marie Adelaide Belloc, 1868-1947

"The Chink in the Armour"

You remember how Louis XVIII. complimented
her on her beautiful complexion at the first Royal ball held after the
Restoration? Well, the Sovereign's gracious words were entirely owing to
the geranium blossom!"


CHAPTER XIV

The day after her memorable expedition to Paris opened pleasantly for
Sylvia Bailey, though it was odd how dull and lifeless the Villa du Lac
seemed to be without Count Paul.
But he would be back to-morrow, and in the morning of the next day they
were to begin riding together.
Again and again she went over in retrospect every moment of the two hours
she had spent in that great house in the Faubourg St. Germain.
How kind these two ladies had been to her, Paul's gentle sister and his
stately little fairy-like godmother! But the Duchesse's manner had been
very formal, almost solemn; and as for the other--Sylvia could still feel
the dim, yet terribly searching, eyes fixed on her face, and she wondered
nervously what sort of effect she had produced on the old Marquise.
Meanwhile, she felt that now was the time to see something of Anna
Wolsky.


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