He climbed on hearing this noise and at last found himself in front of an open room where an infant, who had been left alone, tied in his little chair, in order that he might not fall, was howling and howling without drawing breath.

Then Pierre went down again, upset, frozen by the sight of so much destitution and abandonment.
But a woman was coming in, carrying three potatoes in her apron, and on being questioned by him she gazed distrustfully at his cassock.

"Laveuve, Laveuve?
I can't say," she replied.

"If the door-keeper were there, she might be able to tell you.

There are five staircases, you see, and we don't all know each other.