Lecoq
bowed to her politely, and, displaying the silk handkerchief, exclaimed:
"Madame, I have come to return this article to one of your lodgers."
"To which one?"
"Really, I don't exactly know."
In a moment the worthy dame imagined that this polite young man was
making fun of her. "You scamp--!" she began.
"Excuse me," interrupted Lecoq; "allow me to finish. I must tell you
that at about three o'clock in the morning, of the day before yesterday,
I was quietly returning home, when two ladies, who were seemingly in
a great hurry, overtook me and passed on. One of them dropped this
handkerchief, which I picked up. I hastened after her to restore it,
but before I could overtake them they had rung the bell at your door and
were already in the house. I did not like to ring at such an unearthly
hour for fear of disturbing you. Yesterday I was so busy I couldn't
come; however, here I am at last, and here's the handkerchief." So
saying, Lecoq laid the handkerchief on the table, and turned as if to
go, when the concierge detained him.
"Many thanks for your kindness," said she, "but you can keep it. We have
no ladies in this house who are in the habit of coming home alone after
midnight."
"Still I have eyes," insisted Lecoq, "and I certainly saw--"
"Ah! I had forgotten," exclaimed the old woman. "The night you speak
of some one certainly did ring the bell here. I pulled the string that
opens the door and listened, but not hearing any one close the door
or come upstairs, I said to myself: 'Some mischievous fellow has been
playing a trick on me.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128