Polperro let fall, the
Englishwoman realised, with mingled confusion and amusement, that the
hotel-keeper supposed her to be an old and intimate friend of Count
Paul's sister.
The other people in the hotel began to treat her with marked cordiality.
And so it came to pass that outwardly the Polish lady's disappearance
came to be regarded even by Sylvia as having only been a ripple on the
pleasant, lazy, agreeable life she, Count Paul, and last, not least, the
Wachners, were all leading at Lacville.
In fact, as the days went on, only Mrs. Bailey herself and that kindly
couple, Madame Wachner and her silent husband, seemed to remember that
Anna had ever been there. During the first days, when Sylvia had been
really very anxious and troubled, she had had cause to be grateful to
the Wachners for their sympathy; for whereas Paul de Virieu seemed only
interested in Anna Wolsky because she, Sylvia, herself was interested,
both Madame Wachner and her morose, silent husband showed real concern
and distress at the mysterious lack of news.
Whenever Sylvia saw them, and she saw them daily at the Casino, either
Madame Wachner or L'Ami Fritz would ask her in an eager, sympathetic
voice, "Have you had news of Madame Wolsky?"
And then, when she shook her head sadly, they would express--and
especially Madame Wachner would express--increasing concern and surprise
at Anna's extraordinary silence.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253