"That is what I thought of doing at first, monsieur; but it was just as well I didn't, for it seems that I should have wasted my time."
"Wasted your time? What do you mean? Come, come! explain yourself!"
"When I was coming back, monsieur, I met the concierge.—'Has Mamzelle Georgette gone out already?' I said. 'Do you know whether she'll be back soon?'—At that he began to laugh, and he said: 'Pardi! if you wait for her, you'll waste your time; she went away last night.'"
"Went away last night? Nonsense! you don't know what you're saying; you misunderstood! Went away! where did she go?"
"That's what I asked, monsieur. It seems that the girl has moved. She paid the concierge last night; she sent for an upholsterer, and sold him all her furniture; then she took a cab, and off she went without saying where she was going."
Monsieur de Mardeille turned green, red, and ash-colored in turn.
"A glass of water, Frontin! a glass of water!" he stammered, dropping on a chair. "I think I am going to faint."
The servant hastily gave his master a glass of water, saying:
"Was monsieur so very much in love with our little neighbor?"
At that, Monsieur de Mardeille threw the water in Frontin's face.