Gerdy. She gave me twenty francs for answering her
questions. It seems that the gentleman is going to be married; and she
was evidently much annoyed about it. Superb creature! I have an idea
that she is his mistress. I know now why he goes out every night."
"M. Gerdy?"
"Yes, sir, but I never mentioned it to you, because he seemed to wish to
hide it. He never asks me to open the door for him, no, not he. He slips
out by the little stable door. I have often said to myself, 'Perhaps he
doesn't want to disturb me; it is very thoughtful on his part, and he
seems to enjoy it so.'"
The concierge spoke with his eyes fixed on the gold piece. When he
raised his head to examine the countenance of his lord and master, old
Tabaret had disappeared.
"There's another!" said the concierge to himself. "I'll bet a hundred
sous, that he's running after the superb creature! Run ahead, go it,
old dotard, you shall have a little bit, but not much, for it's very
expensive!"
The concierge was right. Old Tabaret was running after the lady in the
blue brougham.
"She will tell me all," he thought, and with a bound he was in the
street. He reached it just in time to see the blue brougham turn the
corner of the Rue St.
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