The pretty widow had only asked for
sufficient time to slip on a shawl before starting; but then it
so happened that she was rather particular as to her personal
appearance--and such a plump, attractive little body as herself, having
an eye perhaps to renewed wedlock, could not possibly be expected to
tie her bonnet strings in less than a quarter of an hour. Hence, Lecoq's
sojourn behind the scaffolding of the half-built house proved rather
longer than he had expected, and at the thought that May might arrive at
any moment he fairly trembled with anxiety. How much was he in advance
of the fugitive? Half an hour, perhaps! And he had accomplished only
half his task.
At last, however, the coquettish landlady made her appearance as radiant
as a spring morning. She probably wished to make up for the time she had
spent over her toilet, for as she turned the corner she began to run.
Lecoq waited till she was out of sight, and then bounding from his place
of concealment, he burst into the Hotel de Mariembourg like a bombshell.
Fritz, the Bavarian lad, must have been warned that the house was to be
left in his sole charge for some hours; for having comfortably installed
himself in his mistress's own particular armchair, with his legs resting
on another one, he had already commenced to fall asleep.
"Wake up!" shouted Lecoq; "wake up!"
At the sound of this voice, which rang like a trumpet blast, Fritz
sprang to his feet, frightened half out of his wits.
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