"By-by, maman; and don't frighten him too much. Thy style of beauty is not to the taste of all men. Folks are really afraid of thee, maman. Don't make it a part of the bargain that he marry thee."
"Good idea, that! And when shall I see thee?"
"Possibly to-morrow; certainly within a week or so. I may have a few days' work for the committee in Villefranche—dirty country, filthy inns, not like thy room"; and he glanced at it. "I always do like to see how neat it is, and how clean. It would please Sanson. He is so particular; keeps things clean and ready—always ready."
"'T is true," said Quatre Pattes, and clattered away up the hall.
François heard her sticks on the stair, and her shrill laughter. "Thy cheese is poisoned, old rat," he said.
Once secure of the absence of his too observant landlady, François called to Toto and went out of the house. It was now about half-past one. No suspicious persons were visible. He had doubted this Grégoire. He had no mind to leave Paris, but when asking a passport he meant that Grégoire should think he had done so. He moved away, with the dog at his heels, and presently stood awhile in deep thought, at the end of the street. Grégoire was safe; he could harm no one for a day, and after that would be the last man in Paris to trouble François. Amar was to be feared, but that was to be left to chance and cautious care. Quatre Pattes? He smiled. "'T is as fine as a play, Toto. Here comes the last act. Can we go away and not see it?" He looked back. The shoemaker whom the Crab had wished him to denounce, with a view to the eternal settlement of her debts, was standing at his door in the sun, just opposite to No. 33 bis. It was a good little man, lame of a leg, hard-working and timid.
"It is not to be resisted, Toto. Come, my boy." He went back, and pulled the bell at No. 33 bis. No one answered. He rang three times, and became sure that, as he had anticipated, the Crab had at once gone up to see how much of truth there was in his statement.
"HE PULLED THE BELL AT No. 33 BIS."
Thus assured, he looked about him. He saw no one he had need to fear. He crossed the street, and spoke to the cobbler.