Anna the Adventuress

"I think that you were inquiring for Mr. Courtlaw," she remarked. "He

is one of our guests--perhaps I should say boarders here, but he

seldom returns before dinner-time. We dine at seven-thirty. Can I give

him any message for you?"

"Thank you," Anna answered. "I have a letter for him from his brother,

which I was just leaving."

"I will see that he gets it immediately on his return," the lady

promised. "You did not wish to see him particularly this evening,

then?"

Anna hesitated.

"Well, no," she answered. "To tell you the truth though, I am quite a

stranger in London, and it occurred to me that Mr. Courtlaw might have

been able to give me an idea where to stop."

The lady in black satin looked at the pile of luggage outside and

hesitated.

"Were you thinking of private apartments, a boarding-house or an

hotel?" she asked.

"I really had not thought about it at all," Anna answered smiling. "I

expected to stay with a relation, but I found that their arrangements

did not allow of it. I have been used to living in apartments in

Paris, but I suppose the system is different here."

The lady in black satin appeared undecided. She looked from Anna, who

was far too nice-looking to be travelling about alone, to that

reassuring pile of luggage, and wrinkled her brows thoughtfully.

"Of course," she said diffidently, "this is a boarding-house, although

we never take in promiscuous travellers. The class of guests we have

are all permanent, and I am obliged to be very careful indeed. But--if

you are a friend of Mr. Courtlaw's--I should like to oblige Mr.

Courtlaw."

"It is very nice of you to think of it," Anna said briskly. "I should

really like to find somewhere to stay, if it was only for a few

nights."

The lady stood away from the door.

"Will you come this way," she said, "into the drawing-room? There is

no one there just now. Most of my people are upstairs dressing for

dinner. The gentlemen are so particular now, and a good thing too, I

say. I was always used to it, and I think it gives quite a tone to an

establishment. Please sit down, Miss--dear me, I haven't asked you

your name yet."

"My name is Pellissier," Anna said, "Anna Pellissier."

"I am Mrs. White," the lady in black satin remarked. "It makes one

feel quite awkward to mention such a thing, but after all I think that

it is best for both parties. Could you give me any references?"

"There is Mr. Courtlaw," Anna said, "and my solicitors, Messrs. Le

Mercier and Stowe of St. Heliers. They are rather a long way off, but

you could write to them. I am sorry that I do not know any one in

London. But after all, Mrs. White, I am not sure that I could afford

to come to you. I am shockingly poor. Please tell me what your terms

are."