OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER 89
" Hurry up with my grub. I want to get to bed."
She bustled about, took the potatoes from the oven where they
had been browning, and laid the table. Valesco entered, bringing
wafts of frozen air lodged in the folds of his overcoat.
" Sorry, Monsieur Valesco, but I must ask you to wait a bit.
My husband's been on duty all night and I'll give him his lunch
first."
" Has my friend been round this morning? "
" No one's been. Oh, by the way, you'd better go up to Monsieur
Moise's room. He has something to tell you."
" Something to tell me? What on earth can it be? "
She didn't feel at ease till she heard his footsteps on the stairs.
" Has he paid? " asked Monsieur Baron.
" Yes, he settled up yesterday. What's more, he brought a cake
for supper; I've kept a slice for you."
" Where's Antoinette? "
" Doing the rooms. She was a bit late this morning getting
started."
He began eating by himself, sometimes pausing to push up his
straggling grey moustache.
" No news from Sylvie? "
" Our Sylvie never was one for letter-writing—you should know
that."
To conceal her nervousness Madame Baron busied herself with
her pots and pans. When Domb entered, after bowing to her from
the doorway, Baron was drinking his coffee and finishing off the
slice of cake.
" Lunch ready, Madame Baron? "
" In a couple of minutes, Monsieur Domb."
He always conveyed an impression of extreme cleanliness, as if,
unlike the other lodgers, he never omitted a morning bath. With
another bow he started to leave the kitchen.
" Where are you off to ?"
" I thought of going to my room."
" Why not wait here? You're not in the way at all." Madame
Baron was always a little flustered by the Pole's exaggerated
courtesy. " There's a chair. The others will be here in a moment."
Baron rose, yawned, stretched his arms and said to his wife:
" Don't forget to wake me at four."
On his way out he planted a clumsy kiss on his wife's hair,
while she called towards the doorway: