“Do not be anxious. I shall only be out-of-doors at night time. It is not to my interest to be seen in the open daylight. Darkness suits me better. You attend to your business, and I will attend to mine. All I ask of you is a room up in the garret, where I may write and sleep during the daytime. Milona alone will know that I am here. We can have entire confidence in her.”
“Entire, unless there is harm threatening to myself.”
“Who would think of doing you any harm? Not I, at any rate, so long as we have the same end in view.”
They exchanged looks, and in their eyes could be read the memory of long-standing complicity and collusion. Sophia was the first to avert her glance, which she did with a sign of acquiescence.
“Then follow me.”
She opened the door, and showed the way to the man who appeared to her an object of mingled dread and hate.
CHAPTER III
Baudoin had just finished arranging everything in the summer-house where Marcel lived, when he heard his name called by the concierge of the works. On showing himself at the window, the concierge bowed with deference, and said—
“M. Baudoin, some one wishes to speak to you at the gate.”
“Good; I will be down in a moment.”