He learned, however, that the house had
only one street door, and accordingly the two detectives waited. "We are
discovered!" murmured Lecoq. "I am sure of it. May must have recognized
me, or the boy at the Hotel de Mariembourg has described me to the
accomplice."
Father Absinthe made no response, for just then the two men came out of
the house. May was jingling some coins in his hand, and seemed to be
in a very bad temper. "What infernal rascals these receivers are!" he
grumbled.
However, although he had only received a small sum for his clothing, he
probably felt that his companion's kindness deserved some reward; for
immediately afterward he proposed they should take a drink together,
and with that object in view they entered a wine-shop close by. They
remained here for more than an hour, drinking together; and only left
this establishment to enter one a hundred paces distant. Turned out
by the landlord, who was anxious to shut up, the two friends now took
refuge in the next one they found open. Here again they were soon turned
out and then they hurried to another boozing-den--and yet again to
a fifth. And so, after drinking innumerable bottles of wine, they
contrived to reach the Place Saint-Michel at about one o'clock in
the morning. Here, however, they found nothing to drink; for all the
wine-shops were closed.
The two men then held a consultation together, and, after a short
discussion, they walked arm-in-arm toward the Faubourg Saint-Germain,
like a pair of friends.
Pages:
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334