Well, then, what could it be?
The verdigrised handle slowly turned. They were coming in. Who? The Germans? Lerne?
Emma! Well, she could only see an empty room. One of the great damask curtains stirred, perhaps, but she did not remark it.
Barbe stood behind her. The girl was saying softly: “Stay in there and watch the garden. Do what you did the other day: that was all right. As soon as the old man comes out of the Laboratory, warn me by coughing.”
“It is not he who worries me,” replied Barbe, obviously afraid. “He is quite easy in his mind at this moment, I assure you. We shall not see him before night, but as for that Nicolas, that is another pair of shoes. He is coming on!”
So the gray buildings were called the Laboratory, and it was for using that word that the Professor had silenced the servant with a slap. I was beginning to know more.
Emma went on in an irritated tone:
“I tell you again, there is no danger. It is not the first time, is it?”
“Ah! but that Nicolas was not there.”
“Come, do what I tell you.”