‘Now, how am I to get hold of her?’ he said. The clerk making no suggestion, he went on after a pause:—
‘I think if you could tell me just when she left it might help me. Could you do that?’
‘About six weeks ago. I can tell you the exact day by looking up the old wages sheets if you don’t mind waiting. Will you take a seat?’
La Touche thanked him and sat down, trusting the search would be concluded before any of the other clerks returned. But he was not delayed long. In three or four minutes the boy returned.
‘She left on Monday, the 5th of April, monsieur.’
‘And was she long with you?’
‘About two years, monsieur.’
‘I am greatly obliged. And her Christian name was?’
‘Éloise, monsieur. Éloise Lambert.’
‘A thousand thanks. And now I have just to beg of you not to mention my visit, as it would injure me if it got out that my business was not too flourishing. Here is my debt to you.’ He handed over the twenty francs.