The precaution taken, he made for a house a little to the right of the Tertasse gate as one looks to the country.

He mounted by four steep steps to the door and knocked on it.
It was opened so quickly as to disconcert him.

A lanky youth about his own age bounced out and confronted him.

The lad wore a cap and carried two or three books under his arm as if he had been starting forth when the summons came.

The two gazed at one another a moment: then, "Does Madame Royaume live here ?" Claude asked.
The other, who had light hair and light eyes, said curtly that she did.
"Do you know if she has a vacant room ?" Mercier asked timidly.
"She will have one to-night!" the youth answered with temper in his tone: and he dashed down the steps and went off along the street without ceremony or explanation.