Whilst Mother Toulouche, from the back of her store, was watching with a derisive air the good-natured Cranajour fasten up the Academician's robe in a prominent position on the front of her nondescript emporium, someone stepped inside, and warmly greeted Mother Toulouche with a:
"Good day, old lady!"
It was big Ernestine,[5] who explained volubly that for a good half hour she had been prowling about near the statue of Henry IV, keeping the store well in view, but not daring to approach until the usual signal had been displayed. Those who frequented the place knew that when the store was under police observation and Mother Toulouche feared a raid she took care to hang out any kind of old clothes; but if the way was clear, if no lurking police were on the lookout, then the rallying flag would be hoisted, the flag being the old, patched, rusty, musty Academician's robe.
Ernestine had arrived looking thoroughly upset:
"Have you heard the latest?" she cried, "the bad news?"
"What news? Whose news?" questioned Mother Toulouche.
"Why, that poor Emilet has come down a regular cropper!"
"The poor fellow!... He isn't smashed up, is he?" Mother Toulouche lifted her hands.
"I haven't heard anything more than what I've told you!"