six o'clock this evening; I shall return punctually."

Godefroid turned toward the square of the rue de l'Ouest, walking
slowly, for the anxiety depicted on the face of the tall old man made
him think that he would follow him and come to an explanation. And, in
fact, after an instant's hesitation Monsieur Bernard turned round and
retraced his steps so as to overtake Godefroid.

"The old villain! he'll prevent him from returning," thought Madame
Vauthier; "that's the second time he has played me the same trick.
Patience! patience! five days hence he owes his rent, and if he doesn't
pay sharp up I'll turn him out. Monsieur Barbet is a kind of a tiger
one mustn't offend, and--But I would like to know what he's telling him.
Felicite! Felicite, you great gawk! where are you?" cried the widow
in her rasping, brutal voice,--she had been using her dulcet tones to
Godefroid.

The servant-girl, stout, squint-eyed, and red-haired, ran out.

"Keep your eye on things, do you hear me? I shall be back in five
minutes."

And Madame Vauthier, formerly cook to the publisher Barbet, one of
the hardest lenders of money by the week, slipped along behind her
two tenants so as to be able to overtake Godefroid as soon as his
conversation with Monsieur Bernard came to an end.

Monsieur Bernard walked slowly, like a man who is undecided, or like a
debtor seeking for excuses to placate a creditor who has just left him
with threats. Godefroid, though some distance in front, saw him
while pretending to look about and examine the locality. It was not,
therefore, till they reached the middle of the great alley of the garden
of the Luxembourg that Monsieur Bernard came up to the young man.

"Pardon me, monsieur," said Monsieur Bernard, bowing to Godefroid, who
returned his bow. "A thousand pardons for stopping you without having
the honor of your acquaintance; but is it really your intention to take
lodgings in that horrible house you have just left?"

"But, monsieur--"

"Yes, yes," said the old man, interrupting Godefroid, with a gesture of
authority. "I know that you may well ask me by what right I meddle in
your affairs and presume to question you. Hear me, monsieur; you are
young and I am old; I am older than my years, and they are sixty-seven;
people take me for eighty. Age and misfortunes justify many things; but
I will not make a plea of my whitened head; I wish to speak of yourself.
Do you know that this quarter in which you propose