His eyes, as he looked down at his companion through the falling rubbish, gleamed with triumph.
"Where is your floor now ?" he asked.
"You can touch nothing ?" "Nothing.

It's open.

A little more and I might touch the tiles." And he strove to reach higher.
For answer La Tribe gripped him.

"Down! Down, Monsieur," he muttered.
"They are bringing our dinner." Tignonville thrust back the lath as well as he could, and slipped to the floor; and hastily the two swept the rubbish from the bed.

When Badelon, attended by two men, came in with the meal he found La Tribe at the window blocking much of the light, and Tignonville laid sullenly on the bed.