"Must I see her now? I am hardly awake."
"I cannot keep her any longer. She was for coming straight here when the train came in at five. I have kept her at coffee at my house. Tant pis! You have a right to be here!"
The concierge drew the curtain a little wider and the cup was exposed. She thrust it back into the shadow; the door opened and Philippe's mother walked in. She was very tall, in black, and a deep veil hung before her face.
"Bonjour, madame," she said, and her veiled face dipped in a faint salute.
"Will you sit down?"
She took no notice of this, but leaning a little on a stick she carried, said, "I understand that it is right that I should find my house occupied. They told me it would be by an officer. Such occupation I believe ceases on the return of the owner."
"Yes, madame."
"I am the owner of this house."
"Yes."
"May I ask of what nationality you are?"