Useless effort! the intruder who now appeared had brought a candle with him.
When Madame Cerizet saw that she had to do with a small, old man of puny appearance, she flung herself before him with flaming eyes, like a lioness from whom the hunter is seeking to take her cubs.
“Be calm, my good woman,” said the little man, in a jeering tone; “the police are sent for; they will be here in a moment.”
At the word “police” the Cardinal’s legs gave way.
“But, monsieur,” she said, “why the police? we are not robbers.”
“No matter for that; if I were in your place I shouldn’t wait for them,” said the little old man; “they make unfortunate mistakes sometimes.”
“Can I clear out?” asked the woman, incredulously.
“Yes, if you empty your pockets of anything which has, by accident, got into them.”
“Oh! my good monsieur, I haven’t a thing in my hands or my pockets; I wasn’t here to harm any one,—only to nurse my poor dear uncle; you can search me.”
“Come, be off with you! that will do,” said the old man.