Holding out to him the roll of paper, she added: "I could only get them at the last minute; but I've got them, and I don't fancy he suspects anything."
As Bobinette uttered these last words, the old accordion player chuckled sneeringly:
"So that's what you think? As a matter of fact, it is evident that he suspects nothing now!"
The way in which the old man pronounced the word "now" puzzled the girl.
"What do you mean?"
"Captain Brocq is dead."
"Dead!"
Although she did not love her lover much, at this startling piece of news Bobinette had jumped up, wringing her hands in horror. She grew strangely pale.
"Yes, dead!" replied Vagualame coldly. "Kindly sit down please! See to it that you play your part! You are a young woman speaking to an old beggar, and you are not to forget it."
Bobinette sat down mechanically. She questioned him, and her voice was trembling.