“I will give you my opinion,” he uttered, “after I have investigated
matters in the Rue du Cirque.”
They drove there in a few minutes; and, the cab having stopped at
the entrance of the street, they walked on foot in front of No. 49.
It was a small cottage, only one story in height, built between a
sanded court-yard and a garden, whose tall trees showed above the
roof. At the windows could be seen curtains of light-colored silk,
--a sure indication of the presence of a young and pretty woman.
For a few minutes Marius de Tregars remained in observation; but,
as nothing stirred,
“We must find out something, somehow,” he exclaimed impatiently.
And noticing a large grocery store bearing No. 62, he directed his
steps towards it, still accompanied by Maxence.
It was the hour of the day when customers are rare. Standing in
the centre of the shop, the grocer, a big fat man with an air of
importance, was overseeing his men, who were busy putting things
in order.