“Is he going to consult his wife?” M. Folgat asked himself.
He did so; for the next moment they appeared at the other end of the walk, engaged in a lively discussion. However, the discussion did not last long. Goudar came back to the bower, and said,—
“Agreed! I am your man!”
The advocate was delighted, and shook his hand.
“Thank you!” he cried; “for, with your assistance, I am almost sure of success. Unfortunately, we have no time to lose. When can you go to work?”
“This moment. Give me time to change my costume; and I am at your service. You will have to give me the keys of the house in Passy.”
“I have them here in my pocket.”
“Well, then let us go there at once; for I must, first of all, reconnoitre the ground. And you shall see if it takes me long to dress.”
In less than fifteen minutes he reappeared in a long overcoat, with gloves on, looking, for all the world, like one of those retired grocers who have made a fortune, and settled somewhere outside of the corporation of Paris, displaying their idleness in broad daylight, and repenting forever that they have given up their occupation.
“Let us go,” he said to the lawyer.