"Madame Wachner did not tell me that my friend had left a letter--" But Madame Malfait went on angrily: "Madame Wolsky need not have troubled to write! A word of explanation would have been better, and would have prevented my husband sitting up till five o'clock this morning.

We quite feared something must have happened to her.

But we have a great dislike to any affair with the police, and so we thought we would wait before telling them of her disappearance, and it is indeed fortunate that we did so!" "Will you kindly show me the letter she left for you ?" said Sylvia.
Without speaking, Madame Malfait bent down over her table, and then held out a piece of notepaper on which were written the words: Madame Malfait,-- Being unexpectedly obliged to leave Lacville, I enclose herewith 200 francs.

Please pay what is owing to you out of it, and distribute the rest among the servants.

I will send you word where to forward my luggage in a day or two.
Sylvia stared reflectively at the open letter.
Anna had not even signed her name.