"This is a very extraordinary story," said I.
"But it is true," replied Alphonse.
Next day I left Orléans. I gave up the notion of writing the life of Joan of Arc, as I found that there was absolutely no new material to be gleaned on her history—in fact, she had been thrashed out.
Years passed, and I had almost forgotten about Jean Bouchon, when, the other day, I was in Orléans once more, on my way south, and at once the whole story recurred to me.
I went that evening to the same café. It had been smartened up since I was there before. There was more plate glass, more gilding; electric light had been introduced, there were more mirrors, and there were also ornaments that had not been in the café before.
I called for café-cognac and looked at a journal, but turned my eyes on one side occasionally, on the look-out for Jean Bouchon. But he did not put in an appearance. I waited for a quarter of an hour in expectation, but saw no sign of him.
Presently I summoned a waiter, and when he came up I inquired: "But where is Jean Bouchon?"
"Monsieur asks after Jean Bouchon?" The man looked surprised.
"Yes, I have seen him here previously. Where is he at present?"
"Monsieur has seen Jean Bouchon? Monsieur perhaps knew him. He died in 1869."