On the table which did duty for a dressing-table there was a small nosegay of flowers in a glass of water.

It had not been there before she had come down to dinner.
As she put on a large black tulle hat she told herself with a happy smile that Lacville was an enchanting, a delightful place, and that she already felt quite at home here! The Comte de Virieu was waiting for her in the hall.
"I think I ought to introduce myself to you, Madame," he said solemnly.
"My name is Paul de Virieu." "And mine is Sylvia Bailey," she said, a little breathlessly.
As they were hurrying along the short piece of road which led to the lane in which the Casino of Lacville is situated, the Count said suddenly, "Will you pardon me, Madame, if I take the liberty of saying that you should arrange for your friend to call for you on those evenings that you intend to spend at the Casino?
It is not what English people call 'proper' for you to go to the Casino alone, or only accompanied by a stranger--for I, alas! am still a stranger to you." There was no touch of coquetry or flirtation in the voice in which he said those words.

Sylvia blushed violently, but she did not feel annoyed, only queerly touched by his solicitude for--well, she supposed it was for her reputation.
"You see, Madame," he went on soberly, "you look very young--I mean, pardon me, you _are_ very young, and I will confess to you that the first time I saw you I thought you were a 'Miss.' Of course, I saw at once that you were English." "An English girl would hardly have come all by herself to Lacville!" said Sylvia a little flippantly.
"Oh, Madame, English young ladies do such strange things!" Sylvia wondered if the Count were not over-particular.

Was Lacville the sort of place in which a woman could not walk a few yards by herself?
It looked such a happy, innocent sort of spot.
"Perhaps I do not make myself clear," went on Count Paul.
He spoke very quickly, and in a low voice, for they were now approaching the door of the Casino.

"Not very long ago a lady had her hand-bag snatched from her within a few yards of the police-station, in the centre of the town.