"Excuse me a moment. Don't go on without me. I am coming right back."
Paul was waiting for Tobie; he seemed very tired, and the perspiration was still streaming from his face. But Monsieur Pigeonnier began by saying to him:
"It has taken you a very long time; you are very late; if I was a messenger, I would move quicker than this."
"It's not my fault, monsieur," Paul replied. "I went first to the Marché du Temple, to see Madame Agar Abraham."
"Speak lower, messenger, lower! Come to the foot of the stairs; there are too many people passing here."
They went downstairs, and Tobie led Paul into the farthest corner of the courtyard.
"Now, go on," he said; "I am listening."
"I handed monsieur's letter to Madame Abraham."
"Very good; where's the money she gave you?"
"She gave me no money for monsieur; but after reading the letter, she cried: 'My nephew is trying to make a fool of me! does he suppose that I am going to support him in his extravagance? I won't lend him another sou! not another liard! and if he don't pay what he owes me—— '"