Still, as he was a conscientious fellow, he went up to the door and knocked; as no answer came to his raps, he called.
At the double appeal of knuckle and voice, a neighbor appeared at her own door.
"Do you know whether or no my aunt has gone out, eh, Mother Fagot?" asked Pitou.
"Has she not answered?" asked Dame Fagot.
"No; she has not, as you see; so I guess she has gone out for a gossip."
Mother Fagot shook her head.
"I should have seen her go out," she said; "my door opens the same way as hers, and it is pretty seldom that in getting up of a morning she does not drop into our house to get some warm ashes to put in her shoes, with which the poor dear lamb keeps her toes warm all the day. Ain't that so, Neighbor Farolet?"
This question was addressed to a fresh character, who likewise opening his door, shoved his conversational oar into the parley.
"What are you talking about, Madame Fagot?"
"I was a-saying that Aunt Angelique had not gone out. Have you seen anything of her?"