At the door, the servant turned and saw me." "You asked to speak to him ?" "You will think it ridiculous, but I dared not." "You entered the house, then ?" "No, brother." "Really, Henri, I am tempted to disown you this evening.

But you returned the next day ?" "Yes, but uselessly, and equally so to La Gypecienne." "She had disappeared ?" "Like a shadow." "But you inquired ?" "The street has few inhabitants, and no one knew her.

I watched for the servant, but he also had disappeared; however, a light which shone every evening through the Venetian blinds consoled me by the knowledge that she was still there.

At last this disappeared; she had quitted the Rue de Lesdiguieres, and no one knew where she had gone." "But you found her again ?" "Chance did it.

Listen: it is really strange.