Hanaud held up his hand to check the flow of words, and both read
on again: "At three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon madame was driven away in
the carriage, and I did not see it return all that evening. Of
course, it may have returned to the stables by another road. But
it was not unusual for the carriage to take her into Geneva and
wait a long time. I went to bed at eleven, but in the night M.
Gobin was restless, and I rose to get him some medicine. We slept
in the front of the house, monsieur, and while I was searching for
the matches upon the table in the middle of the room I heard the
sound of carriage wheels in the silent street. I went to the
window, and, raising a corner of the curtains, looked out. M.
Gobin called to me fretfully from the bed to know why I did not
light the candle and get him what he wanted. I have already told
you how fretful sick men can be, always complaining if just for a
minute one distracts oneself by looking out of the window. But
there! One can do nothing to please them. Yet how right I was to
raise the blind and look out of the window! For if I had obeyed my
husband I might have lost four thousand francs. And four thousand
francs are not to be sneezed at by a poor woman whose husband lies
in bed.
"I saw the carriage stop at Mme. Rossignol's house. Almost at once
the house door was opened by the old servant, although the hall of
the house and all the windows in the front were dark. That was the
first thing that surprised me. For when madame came home late and
the house was dark, she used to let herself in with a latchkey.
Now, in the dark house, in the early morning, a servant was
watching for them. It was strange.
"As soon as the door of the house was opened the door of the
carriage opened too, and a young lady stepped quickly out on to
the pavement. The train of her dress caught in the door, and she
turned round, stooped, freed it with her hand, and held it up off
the ground. The night was clear, and there was a lamp in the
street close by the door of Mme. Rossignol's house. As she turned
I saw her face under the big green hat. It was very pretty and
young, and the hair was fair. She wore a white coat, but it was
open in front and showed her evening frock of pale green. When she
lifted her skirt I saw the buckles sparkling on her satin shoes.
It was the young lady for whom you are advertising, I am sure. She
remained standing just for a moment without moving, while Mme.
Rossignol got out. I was surprised to see a young lady of such
distinction in Mme. Rossignol's company. Then, still holding her
skirt up, she ran very lightly and quickly across the pavement
into the dark house. I thought, monsieur, that she was very
anxious not to be seen. So when I saw your advertisement I was
certain that this was the young lady for whom you are searching.
"I waited for a few moments and saw the carriage drive off towards
the stable at the end of the street. But no light went up in any
of the rooms in front of the house. And M. Gobin was so fretful
that I dropped the corner of the blind, lit the candle, and gave
him his cooling drink. His watch was on the table at the bedside,
and I saw that it was five minutes to three. I will send you a
telegram tomorrow, as soon as I am sure at what hour I can leave
my husband. Accept, monsieur, I beg you, my most distinguished
salutations.