Paul looked at Monsieur Roger, thinking that he was laughing at him. Monsieur Roger lifted his eyes to Paul; he looked quite serious. Then Paul said, softly,—
"The tower is sixty feet high?"
"Sixty-two and a half feet,—for the odd two and a half feet must not be forgotten in our computation."
Paul was silent. Then, seeing that Monsieur Roger was ready to smile, and mistaking the cause of this smile, he said,—
"You are joking, are you not? You cannot know that the tower is really sixty feet high?"
"Sixty-two feet and six inches," repeated Monsieur Roger again. "That is exact. Do you want to have it proved to you?"
"Oh, yes, sir," said Paul Solange, with real curiosity.
"Very well. Go back to the château, and bring me a ball of twine and a yard-measure."
"I run," said Paul.
"Take care!" cried Monsieur Roger, seeing how quickly Paul was hurrying down the tower.