Juve laughed:
"Confound you!"
With a quick movement Fandor, at the detective's request, drew back the wheel chair and shut the window.
"You understand," explained Juve, "there is nothing to surprise my neighbours in my having two soldiers to visit me. But I don't care for third persons to hear what they say to me." There was a ring at the apartment door. "Go and open, Fandor. I don't leave my cripple's chair for them; people can see through the curtains."
Shown in by Fandor, the soldiers shook hands with Juve and took seats opposite him.
"Do you recognise Michel and Léon?"
"Oh, perfectly!" cried Fandor, "but why this disguise?"
"Because no heed is paid to uniforms, there are soldiers everywhere, and also it is not easy to recognise a civilian suddenly appearing in uniform. What is fresh, Michel?"
"Something pretty serious, sir. According to your instructions we have been shadowing the Superior of the Nogent Convent."
"Well, what have you discovered?"