Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/120

98 "He is busily employed, then, with M. Vanozzi."

"Oh, he is a queer man — busy over too many things. I am afraid he spends his time in a bad way. . . . Ah, my poor boy! "

She took a step towards the door as though she wanted to change the conversation.

"No one lives here, then? " I resumed, stopping her.

"Not a single creature." "And why is that?" She shrugged her shoulders.

"Listen to me," I said, as I gave her a piastre. " Tell me the truth. A woman comes here."

"A woman? GoodLord!"

"Yes ; I saw her yesterday evening and I spoke to her."

"Holy Mother!" cried the old dame, and she rushed to the staircase; "it must be Madam Lucrezia! Let us go! let us go. Monsieur! They certainly told me she walked here by night, but I did not wish to tell it you for fear of injuring the landlord, because I thought you wished to rent it."

It was out of the question to keep her there; she hurried out of the house, anxious, she said, "to light a candle in the nearest church."