"Tell the landlord that I will take them both."
"They were taken yesterday evening."
"By whom?"
"By a Swiss officer, who is entertaining a party of friends to supper here this evening."
I said no more lest I should awaken suspicion; but I felt sure that Bellegarde could easily obtain access to my rooms from his. Indeed, there was a door leading to the room where Maton slept with her maid when I did not care to have her in my room. The door was bolted on her side, but as she was in the plot there was not much security in this.
I went upstairs softly, and finding Maton on the balcony, I said, after some indifferent conversation, that I should like to change rooms.
"You shall have my room," I said, "and I will have yours; I can read there, and see the people going by."
She thought it a very good idea, and added that it would serve us both if
I would allow her to sit there when I was out.
This reply shewed me that Maton was an old hand, and that I had better give her up if I did not wish to be duped.
I changed the rooms, and we supped pleasantly together, laughing and talking, and in spite of all her craft Maton did not notice any change in me.