"What may you want, gentlemen?" said the Jew, before opening the door, as he wished first to make sure of the identity of the personages.
"I am sent by M. Dumesnil, the notary," answered the clerk, "to be present at the unwalling of a door. Here is a letter from my master, addressed to M. Samuel, guardian of the house."
"I am he, sir," said the Jew; "please to put the letter through the slide, and I will take it."
The clerk did as Samuel desired, but shrugged his shoulders at what he considered the ridiculous precautions of a suspicious old man. The housekeeper opened the box, took the letter, went to the end of the vaulted passage in order to read it, and carefully compared the signature with that of another letter which he drew from the pocket of his long coat; then, after all these precautions, he chained up his dogs, and returned to open the gate to the clerk and masons.
"What the devil, my good man!" said the clerk, as he entered; "there would not be more formalities in opening the gates of a fortress!"
The Jew bowed, but without answering.
"Are you deaf, my good fellow?" cried the clerk, close to his ears.
"No, sir," said Samuel, with a quiet smile, as he advanced several steps beyond the passage. Then pointing to the old house, he added: "That, sir, is the door which you will have to open; you will also have to remove the lead and iron from the second window to the right."
"Why not open all the windows?" asked the clerk.
"Because, sir, as guardian of this house, I have received particular orders on the subject."