"Asleep! nonsense! Why, it’s two hours since I woke up. I am going up to his apartment."
"But, monsieur, nobody goes up so early as this."
"When a man proposes to buy a château, he should be at liberty to call whenever he pleases."
The concierge, thinking that Robineau’s business must be of great importance, allowed him to go upstairs, and he jangled the bell at the door of the notary’s apartment.
In a few minutes a maid opened the door with a terrified air, saying:
"Mon Dieu! whatever has happened?"
"It’s I, my dear child," replied Robineau; "I want to speak with your master."
"What for, monsieur?" inquired the servant, still thinking that some event of great importance must have happened.
"What for? Parbleu! about the château, the estate I instructed him to find for me."
The maid became calmer and stared at Robineau as she replied: