She did not see him; unconscious of his presence she crossed the floor and shut the outer door.
There was a something in her bearing which went to the heart of the young man who stood and saw her for the first time; a depression, a dejection, an I know not what, so much at odds with her youth and her slender grace, that it scarcely needed the sigh with which she turned to draw him a pace nearer.

As he moved their eyes met.

She, who had not known of his presence, recoiled with a low cry and stared wide-eyed: he began hurriedly to speak.
"I am the son of M.Gaston Mercier, of Chatillon," he said, "who lodged here formerly.

At least," he stammered, beginning to doubt, "if this be the house of Madame Royaume, he lodged here.

A young man who met me at the door said that Madame lived here, and had a room." "He admitted you?
The young man who went out ?" "Yes." She gazed hard at him a moment, as if she doubted or suspected him.
Then, "We have no room," she said.
"But you will have one to-night," he answered "I do not know." "But--but from what he said," Claude persisted doggedly, "he meant that his own room would be vacant, I think." "It may be," she answered dully, the heaviness which surprise had lifted for a moment settling on her afresh.