Page:Stories by Foreign Authors (French I).djvu/155

154 "No one at all."

"And where was Christina while you were knitting?"

"Why, the dear child was looking after the cooking for me, as I was too tired to move from my chair. She is so kind and obliging!"

"But she was n't in the kitchen all the time?"

"No, Mijnheer, she retired to her own room towards evening."

"So you say she retired to her own room towards evening?"

"Yes, Mijnheer, to dress for supper."

"And—did she remain in her room a long time?"

"About an hour, Mijnheer?"

"An hour?"

"Yes, fully an hour, Mijnheer."

"And you heard nothing during all this time?"

"I beg your pardon—"

"I asked you if you heard any noise—for instance, the sound of some one hammering wood?"

"No, Mijnheer."

"Yes, gentlemen, she is as deaf as a doorpost," said M. Tricamp, turning towards the young men. Then he approached Gudule, and raising his voice he added:

"I suppose the storm was at its height at this time?"