As he turned down the passage for the second time, a woman came out of the room that was next-door to the end one. Julius collided with her and apologised.
“You are looking for ...?”
“Monsieur Wluiki lives here, doesn’t he?”
“He’s gone out.”
“Oh!” said Julius in a tone of such annoyance that the woman asked:
“Is it very urgent?”
Julius had prepared himself solely for an encounter with the unknown Lafcadio and he was taken aback; yet here was a fine opportunity; this woman was perhaps in a position to give him a great deal of information about the young man; if only he could get her to talk....
“There was something I wanted to ask him about.”
“Does she suspect I come from the police?” thought Julius.