The Colonel did not wait until he entered the house, but met him at the door, candle in hand.

He need not have put any question, as Hugot's face answered that question before it was asked.

The moment the light fell upon it, any one could have told that Hugot had come back _without the skin_.

He looked quite crest-fallen; and his great moustachios appeared bleached and drooping.
"You have not got it ?" interrogated the Colonel, in a faltering voice.
"No, Colonel," muttered Hugot, in reply.
"You tried everywhere ?" "Everywhere." "You advertised in the papers ?" "In all the papers, monsieur." "You offered a high price ?" "I did.

It was to no purpose.