“But why am I talking like that?” Anna Wolsky started up suddenly.  “It is absurd of me to think it possible that you would dream of marrying the Comte de Virieu!  No, no, my dear child, this poor Frenchman is one of those men who, even if personally charming, no wise woman would think of marrying.  He is absolutely ruined.  I do not suppose he has a penny left of his own in the world.  He would not have the money to buy you a wedding ring.  You would have to provide even that!  It would be madness—­absolute madness!”

“I do not think,” said Sylvia, in a low tone, “that there is the slightest likelihood of my ever marrying the Comte de Virieu.  You forget that I have known him only a short time, and that he has never said a word of love to me.  As you say, all he cares about is play.”

“Surely you must be as well aware as I am that lately he has played a great deal less,” said Anna, “and the time that he would have spent at the Club—­well, you and I know very well where he has spent the time, Sylvia.  He has spent it with you.”

“And isn’t that a good thing?” asked Sylvia, eagerly.  “Isn’t it far better that he should spend his time talking to me about ordinary things than in the Casino?  Let me assure you again, and most solemnly, Anna, that he never makes love to me—­”

“Of course it is a good thing for him that he plays less”—­Anna spoke impatiently—­“but is it best for you?  That is what I ask myself.  You have not looked well lately, Sylvia.  You have looked very sad sometimes.  Oh, do not be afraid, you are quite as pretty as ever you were!”

The tears were running down Sylvia’s face.  She felt that she ought to be very angry with her friend for speaking thus plainly to her, and yet she could not be angry.  Anna spoke so tenderly, so kindly, so delicately.

“Shall we go away from Lacville?” asked Madame Wolsky, suddenly.  “There are a hundred places where you and I could go together.  Let us leave Lacville!  I am sure you feel just as I do—­I am sure you realise that the Comte de Virieu would never make you happy.”

Sylvia shook her head.

“I do not want to go away,” she whispered.

And then Madame Wolsky uttered a short exclamation.

“Ah!” she cried, “I understand.  He is the friend you are to meet to-morrow—­that is why you are going into Paris!”

Sylvia remained silent.

“I understand it all now,” went on Anna.  “That is the reason why he was not there to-night.  He has gone into Paris so as not to compromise you at Lacville.  That is the sort of gallantry that means so little!  As if Lacville matters—­but tell me this, Sylvia?  Has he ever spoken to you as if he desired to introduce his family to you?  That is the test, remember—­that is the test of a Frenchman’s regard for a woman.”

There came a knock at the door.  “The carriage for Madame has arrived.”

They went downstairs, Sylvia having left her friend’s last question unanswered.