"But I have no reason for trying to go out," replied Mario, cautiously; "I am looking round to see if there's anything to eat; I am hungry."
"That makes no difference to me, my boy. We are hungry too, and we're waiting for the captain to give us orders to eat."
Mario was not hungry. He was very anxious. In the room at the rear, which was a sort of pantry and serving-room, he saw Mistress Pignoux and her servant bustling about. It seemed to him that the former saw him and recognized him, and that she even spoke to the servant, as if to warn her not to mention the discovery.
But all this might well be a delusion, and Mario waited for a moment when Saccage's back should be turned, to try to exchange a word or a glance with the hostess. He knew that everybody in the house worshipped his father and himself.
He adopted the plan of pretending to fall asleep, and Saccage soon went out to give some order.
Thereupon the child rushed up to Madame Pignoux, saying:
"It is I! not a word! where is my father?"
"Upstairs!" replied Madame Pignoux hastily; although advanced in years, she was still a robust woman, with a firm foot and a keen eye.
She pointed to the wooden staircase leading to the dining-room, called the salle d'honneur at the Geault-Rouge.
But, as the child was already climbing the stairs, she detained him.