You need not give yourself the trouble.

_D'ailleurs_," she paused and looked at me with a quick and passing gravity, "that has never been your role, Monsieur l'Anglais--you are not fitted for it." She pulled a long face--such as mine, no doubt, appeared in her eyes--and left me.
I had business that took me across the Seine during the morning, and lunched at a club--so did not again see the ladies until later in the day.

The desire of speech with Alphonse Giraud on a matter connected with his father's burial took me back to the Rue des Palmiers in the afternoon, when I learnt from the servant that the Baron's son had returned, and was, so far as he knew, still in the house.

I went to the drawing-room and there found Madame alone.
"I am seeking Monsieur Alphonse Giraud," I said.
"Whose good genius you are." "Not that I am aware of, Madame." "No," she said, slowly, "that is just it.

In a crowded street the strongest house does not know how many weaker buildings are leaning against it.