“The sooner the better,” responded Paulette. So down they went to the telephone below. Paulette grudgingly produced the necessary coin to pay for the call, and after some delay they managed to get hold of the operator, but after what seemed an unconscionable time they were informed that no response came to the call.
“It is probably a place of business and too late to find the proprietor,” suggested the old man in charge of the office. “To-morrow, mademoiselle, in the morning, no doubt you will find him without difficulty.”
But in the morning they met with no greater success. “No answer,” reported the operator.
“What can it mean?” Lucie turned in bewilderment to the old man.
“Probably this person has moved away.”
“Then what shall we do?”
“One would best go to the place and find out. There are neighbors, no doubt, who can tell where the person has gone.”
“We shall have to go. There is nothing left to do,” said Lucie, turning to Paulette. “Is it far, monsieur?” she asked. She showed the old man the slip of paper on which she had written the address.
He read it and shrugged his shoulders. “Far enough.”
“But one can walk?” put in Paulette.