"Madame Cavalos?"
"Bonjour, monsieur! very well, I thank you."
"I wanted to speak to your niece, Mademoiselle Rosette."
"Yes, monsieur, I don't change much; that's what everybody tells me."
"I come from Madame Berlingot."
"You thought I didn't live so low? I used to be higher up, but I've moved down."
What did that mean? Madame Cavalos seemed to be stone deaf. I stepped nearer to her, and shouted at the top of my lungs:
"I want to see Mademoiselle Rosette, your niece!"
"You say you have come about my lease?"
That was most trying. The woman was a fool. I gave up speaking and made a lot of strange gestures, trying to arouse her curiosity at least. Motioning to me to wait, she left the room, and returned with an ear trumpet, which she held to her ear, saying: