She refused, with a terrified gesture.
“Then, wait a moment; I will take a look up and down the stairs, for I should deeply regret if the least harm happened to you.”
Lisa had remained in the middle of the ante-room, with her candle. He took it, went out onto the landing, and returned almost immediately.
“I assure you there is no one. Run up quick.”
Then Berthe, who had not again opened her lips, hastily took off the woolen shawl, and threw it on the floor, saying:
“Here! this is yours. It’s no use keeping it, as he’s going to kill me!”
And she went out into the darkness, with nothing on but her chemise, the same as when she came. Campardon double locked the door in a fury, murmuring the while:
“Eh! go and get tumbled elsewhere!”
Then, as Lisa burst out laughing behind him, he added:
“It’s true, they’d be coming every night, if one received them. Every one for himself. I would have given her a hundred francs: but my reputation! no, by Jove!”