“You must have known M. Paul for some time, as you seem so thoroughly acquainted with his habits?” said he.
“Well, I ought to, for he has been here nearly fifteen months, and all that time I have looked after his room.”
“Do you know where he lived before he came here?”
“Of course I do, for I went to inquire about him in the Rue Jacob. The people there were quite cut up at his leaving, but you see this was more handy for the music publisher in the Rue Richelieu, for whom he works.”
“Good, Mother Brigaut; that will do; you can leave us now.”
As Paul listened to this brief conversation, he wondered if he was awake or asleep. Tantaine stood at the door and watched the woman down stairs; then he closed it carefully, and coming up to Paul, said,—
“Well, what do you think of all this?”
At first Paul was so astounded that he could hardly find words in which to express himself; but he remembered the words that Dr. Hortebise had so often dinned into his ears during the last five days,—
“Let nothing astonish you.”
“I suppose,” said he at last, “that you had taught this old woman her lesson beforehand.”