"It passes my comprehension," muttered the man with the cigar. Then, after a moment's reflection, he added:
"What does this lady do to take her out so early?"
"I have no idea, monsieur."
"But what do the people in the house think of it?"
"Nothing, monsieur."
"Nothing! Do you mean that they see nothing remarkable about a lady going out at four o'clock in the morning?"
"When Madame Luceval first came here, about four years ago, her manner of living did seem rather peculiar, but people soon ceased to trouble themselves about it; for, as I told you just now, nobody ever sees her, so people forget all about her, though she is wonderfully pretty."
"If she is so pretty, she must have a lover, of course," said the stranger, with a sarcastic smile, but as if the words, somehow, burned his tongue.
"I have heard persons say that this lady never has a visitor, monsieur."
"But when she returns home so late at night, she does not return alone, I fancy."