Annie went into the house, rushed up to Mabel's room, and, taking three ten-pound notes out of her pocket, said exultantly: "There, I have done it! Now who is clever?" "Oh, you are," said Mabel. "But where did you sell it, and to whom? We must keep Aunt Henrietta from going to any of the shops to-day." "Oh, we will easily manage that," said Annie. "She is going to have a little drive after lunch, and I am going with her--trust me. We must get to Zermatt to-morrow. Now I am going to write a long letter to Mrs Priestley enclosing this. I shall barely have time before _dejeuner_." When that day Annie Brooke did sit down to _dejeuner_ she considered herself a remarkably wealthy young woman, for she had in her possession nearly eighty pounds, every one of which she intended to keep for her own special aggrandisement; and Mrs Priestley was paid--paid in full, with a long explanatory letter desiring her emphatically to send an account to Lady Lushington which would only amount to forty pounds. Annie was exceedingly pleased. The colour of excitement bloomed on her cheeks; her eyes looked quite dark. At these times she was so nearly pretty that many people remarked on her and turned to look at her again. She was in her wildest, most captivating mood, too, and Priscilla looked by her side both limp and uninteresting. If only Priscilla would go. Her very face was a reproach. Annie wondered if she could accomplish this feat also. Mr Manchuri could take her to England. What an excellent idea, if Annie could only work it! "I have had everything else I wanted to-day," thought the girl, "and if I can do this one last thing I will see the pinnacle of my success reached." "You will come for a drive, won't you?" said Annie, bending towards Lady Lushington as the tedious meal of _dejeuner_ was coming to an end. Lady Lushington yawned slightly. "Oh, I don't know," she said; "the heat is so great that I have not energy for anything. I wonder if I ought to travel to-morrow." "Oh yes," said Annie; "it will be cooler at Zermatt." "That is true; but the journey--" "We have taken our rooms in the hotel, have we not?" said Annie. "Well, that is just it; I am not sure. I telegraphed this morning to the `Beau Sejour,' but have not had a reply yet. I insist on staying at the `Beau Sejour.' There is no hotel like it in the place." "There are such a lot of us, of course," said Annie; "but Priscie and I do not mind sharing the tiniest little room together; do we, Pris?" Here she glanced at Priscilla. Priscilla looked up. "I don't want to be unpleasant," she said, "but I certainly should like a room to myself." "Of course, my dear," said Lady Lushington. "Dear, dear! I must consult with Parker. There's a room for me, a room for Mabel, a room each for you two girls--that makes four; and Parker's room, five. You two girls would not by any chance mind sleeping in another hotel, would you?"