With an air almost as furtive as that of the lad before him, he signed to him to approach.
Louis crossed the room with a show of caution the more strange as the early December sun was shining and all without was cheerful.

"Has he come back ?" Blondel whispered.
"Claude ?" "Fool!" Low as the Syndic pitched his tone it expressed a world of contempt.

"No, Basterga ?" The youth shook his head, and again laying his finger to his lips listened.
"What! He has not ?" Blondel's colour returned, his eyes bulged out with passion.

What did the imbecile mean?
Because he knew certain things did he think himself privileged to play the fool?
The Syndic's fingers tingled.

Another second and he had broken the silence with a vengeance, when-- "You are--too late!" Louis muttered.