"Oui," he replied, looking at him sharply; "n'êtes-vous pas Français?"
"Monsieur a beaucoup de pénétration," said Judas, startled at hearing his own tongue.
His eyes had narrowed into those dangerous slits which betokened that he was on his guard against this clever—too clever Englishman. The two men looked at one another steadily for a moment, and two ideas flashed rapidly through their respective minds.
The Fanks idea, suggested by the suspicious appearance (to a detective) of Monsieur Judas:
"This man has a past, and is always on his guard."
The Guinaud idea, inspired by a naturally suspicious nature:
"This Englishman is a possible enemy. I must be careful."
There was really no ground for such uncomplimentary ideas on the part of these two men who now met for the first time, except that instinctive repulsion which springs from the collision of two natures antipathetic to one another.
Mr. Wosk, being warned by the apparition of Mrs. Wosk's head at the little window that he was wasting time, addressed himself at once to his customer in a business fashion:
"What can I do for you, sir?"