At the same time, however, the magistrate's pompous and affectedly shrewd manner suggested that he already knew everything to the smallest details, and that, had he chosen, he could have promised some great events for the morrow.

A circle of ladies had gathered round him as he spoke, quite a number of pretty women feverish with curiosity, who jostled one another in their eagerness to hear that brigand tale which sent a little shiver coursing under their skins.

However, Amadieu managed to slip off after paying Rosemonde twenty francs for a cigarette case, which was perhaps worth thirty sous.
Massot, on recognising Pierre, came up to shake hands with him.

"Don't you agree with me, Monsieur l'Abbe, that Salvat must be a long way off by now if he's got good legs?
Ah! the police will always make me laugh!" However, Rosemonde brought Hyacinthe up to the journalist.

"Monsieur Massot," said she, "you who go everywhere, I want you to be judge.