"To be sure, Uncle, they are very practical."
"Yes, yes; to begin with, when those shutters are closed it would be impossible from the outside to see anything in the rooms. Not even the least light."
The porter proceeded to show them the first floor of the house.
"There is only one staircase?" asked the stout man.
"And what is the cause of the unusual dampness? We are far from the Seine; the garden is not very leafy."
"There is a leaky cistern in the cellars, sir. Here is the largest bedroom. It was my Lady's."
"Yes, one sees it has been the last room to be lived in."
At this harmless remark the porter seemed very upset.
"What makes you think that, sir?"