The woman signified assent, but without inviting her visitor in.
‘I have a little job for him. Could I see him, please?’
‘He’s not in, monsieur.’
‘That’s unfortunate for me and for him too, I fancy. Can you tell me where I should find him?’
The woman shrugged her shoulders.
‘I cannot tell, monsieur.’ She spoke in a dull, toneless way, as if the struggle for existence had sapped away all her interest in life.
La Touche took out a five-franc piece and pushed it into her hand.
‘You get hold of him for me,’ he said, ‘I want this little job done and he could do it. It’ll get him into no trouble, and I’ll pay him well.’
The woman hesitated. Then, after a few seconds, she said:—
‘If I tell you where he is, will you give me away?’