‘Has he been here long?’ I asked.
‘About a year, madame. You have, perhaps, not seen him since a long time. An old friend?’
‘It is ten years ago,’ I replied.
‘Ah! Ten years! In England, without doubt?’
‘In England, yes.’
‘Ten years!’ she repeated, musing.
‘I am certain she has a kind heart,’ I said to myself, and I decided to question her: ‘Will you not sit down, madame?’ I invited her.
‘Ah, madame! it is you who should sit down,’ she said quickly. ‘You must have suffered.’
We both sat down. There were only two chairs in the room.
‘I would like to ask you,’ I said, leaning forward towards her, ‘have you ever seen him—drunk—before?’