The man he had followed was on the point of seating himself at one of the tables, and as he did so Gervaise recognised him as the Greek he had met at the merchant's house.

He at once walked on a short distance, and then paused to think.
The vague suspicions he had before entertained as to the man now recurred with double force; he was certainly in communication with one or more of the slaves, and such communication, so secretly effected, could be for no good purpose.

So far, however, there was nothing he could tax the man with.

He would probably deny altogether that he had spoken to any of the slaves, and Gervaise could not point out the one he had conversed with.

At any rate, nothing could be done now, and he required time to think what steps he could take to follow up the matter.
He resolved, however, to wait and follow the Greek when he came out.
After a few minutes he again repassed the door, and saw that the man was engaged in earnest conversation with another.