However, he had hitherto attached no importance to him, and was therefore much surprised by Don Vigilio's question.

The other, without awaiting his reply, had returned to the end of the corridor, where for a long while he remained listening.

Then he came back on tip-toe, blew out his candle, and darted into Pierre's sitting-room.

"There--that's done," he murmured directly the door was shut.

"But if it is all the same to you, we won't stop in this sitting-room.