"You see, the Casino only has a summer Concession; it cannot open till April 15.

Of course there are people who will tell you that Lacville is the plague-pit of Paris, but that's all nonsense! Lacville is neither better nor worse than other towns near the capital!" The carriage had now drawn up before a large, plain, white house, across which was painted in huge, black letters, "Hotel-Pension Malfait." "This is the place I have found!" exclaimed Anna.

"Would you care to come in and see the room I've engaged from next Monday week ?" Sylvia followed her into the house with curiosity and interest.

Somehow she did not like the Pension Malfait, though it was clear that it had once been a handsome private mansion standing in large grounds of its own.

The garden, however, had now been cut down to a small strip, and the whole place formed a great contrast to the gay and charming Villa du Lac.
What garden there was seemed uncared for, though an attempt had been made to make it look pretty with the aid of a few geraniums and marguerites.
M.Malfait, the proprietor of the Pension, whom Sylvia had already seen with Anna at the Casino, now came forward in the hall, and Sylvia compared him greatly to his disadvantage, to the merry M.Polperro.
"Madame has brought her friend ?" he said eagerly, and staring at Sylvia as he spoke.