"A messenger is here, asking for Monsieur Célestin de Valnoir."
"Very well," said Célestin, rising; "I'll go and speak to him."
He left the room and found Jean Ficelle waiting on the landing; he beckoned to the messenger, who said in an undertone:
"First of all, my comrade Sans-Cravate went to the same house that I did. I let him go first, as you told me; then I waited till he came out, before I went in."
"Very good. And he didn't see you?"
"It was impossible. The lady wasn't in, but I found the maid, Mamzelle Rosa, who told me where her mistress was—on Rue d'Angoulême, Boulevard du Temple, calling on one of her friends. I went there and found her, and gave her your letter. She read it, and then gave me this answer for monsieur."
With that, Jean Ficelle handed Célestin a letter. He tore it open, hurried to a gas jet to read it, and seemed satisfied with its contents. Having put it in his pocket, he took out a two-franc piece and handed it to the messenger, saying:
"Here, this is for you."
Jean Ficelle made a wry face as he took the coin, and muttered:
"Only that much for going to Rue Neuve-Vivienne, then to Rue d'Angoulême, and coming back here; it ain't very fat pay."