"I don't know."
"What is her name?"
"I don't know."
By this time the dame ended her task by tying the clothes in a bundle, and seemed in haste to be off.
"Is it not rather strange that you should know neither your niece's name nor where she lives?"
"I don't care," she said, defiantly resting a hand on either hip: "I will have nothing more to do with it." Here the bundle at her feet received a kick which sent it spinning over the floor, and she would have left the room had I not stood in her way.
"Why did you begin it?" I asked quickly, seeing here a chance of solving the mystery.
"She would take no refusal; and besides, she gave me twenty francs."
"What for?"
"Merely to allow her to carry home your wash. I hope you found nothing missing?"