Chapter FourAs she reached the staircase that she had ascended by, Vilma saw César Ritz hurrying up it.
She waited until, as he reached the top, he saw her and exclaimed,
“Oh, mademoiselle, I am so sorry. You must forgive me. But there has been a muddle and only I could sort it out.”
“I can quite believe that,” Vilma replied, “but now, monsieur, I must go home.”
He glanced along the corridor as if he was surprised and she added,
“The Comte Gaston de Forêt has arrived.”
“Arrived?” Monsieur Ritz exclaimed. “He told me that he would not be here until seven o’clock.”
Vilma did not reply.
She merely started to walk down the stairs.
César Ritz, grumbling beneath his breath, followed her.
His carriage was waiting outside the front door. He helped her into it and then climbed in himself
