"Mademoiselle, I find you a billet, I instal you, and you come to me in the middle of the morning with this ridiculous story of an owl. It isn't reasonable…."
The door opened and his superior officer walked in, a stern captain with no crease about his mouth, no beam in his olive eye.
Ah, now … Now the lieutenant had but to turn to his superior officer and she would indeed be rent, and reasonably so.
"What is the matter?" said the newcomer. "Is something fresh needed?"
The billeting lieutenant never hesitated a second.
"Mon capitaine, unfortunately the billet found yesterday for this lady is unsuitable. The owner of the house returns this week, and needs the room."
"Have you some other lodging for her?"
"Yes, mon capitaine, in the Rue de Clèves."
"Good. Then there is no difficulty?"
"None. Follow me, mademoiselle, the street is near. I will take you to the concierge."