"I said so just now to Catherine."
"But what makes you think ...?"
"In the first place, the master did not put his boots outside his door as usual.... M. Philippe neither...."
"What!" said Marthe. "Has M. Philippe gone out too?"
"Very early this morning, ma'am ... before my time for getting up."
In spite of herself, Suzanne Jorancé protested:
"But no, it's not conceivable...."
"Why, when I came down," said Victor, "the front-door was not locked."
"And your master never forgets to turn the key, does he?"
"Never. As the door was not locked, it means either that the master has gone out ... or else...."