<div style="text-align: justify;">The American lady was paying close attention to the conversation between Rich and Diane, but she hadn’t looked at them for a moment. She knew that she had her informer, after all, and that paying too close attention to them, visibly, could ruin her attempt at being discreet. Therefore, she went to pay for her dress and added a little something more to the saleswoman, to make sure she would give her the information she wanted, and left the store.<br/><br/>Outside, she called for another cab and sat on it. Instead of giving the driver an address, she simply told him to wait. Shutting the man up with a bill, she explained that she was following her husband and his mistress, and that he should be perfectly discreet if he wanted to be paid handsomely for his efforts. After saying these words, the lady opened a magazine and started reading it while waiting for Diane and Rich to leave the store.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">**********</div><br/>Back in the hotel, things seemed to be going as usual. The café was starting to get more populated, the chamber maids were tidying up the rooms, and some new guests were coming in.<br/><br/>While Colette was upstairs, a well-dressed lady entered the hotel and went to check in. This one seemed to be American as well, but her French was - for the staff’s relief - excellent, albeit spoken in a slower beat.<br/><br/>She stated that she was there for room 204, and presented her identification to the clerk. The clerk checked her name and welcomed the woman to the hotel with a smile. Another rich guest, and this one seemed to be really kindly. It was a relief, with the asshat they had endured earlier.<br/><br/>The woman was led to the café and offered some tea, as her room was still being prepared. She seemed slightly nervous, but nodded and accepted a cup of peppermint tea. The woman seemed a little tired, as though she had been recently ill, but behaved very politely, smiling and thanking everyone she interacted with.<br/><br/>It didn’t take long for someone to go upstairs and alert Colette that the guest from 204 was already waiting for her room. Rushing to the place, the chamber maid got everything ready and asked the porter who had rushed up for her to go downstairs. It wouldn’t do to keep their new guest waiting, after all.<br/><br/>Once the room was ready, Colette made her way down to welcome the new guest. She was still wondering what was with all these Americans pouring in, but she tried to ignore her curiosity and do her job properly. Rich guests meant good tips, after all. And good tips meant, maybe, that she could offer Paul some help until he could get back on his feet.</div>