OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER 95
day train and didn't come home till seven in the evening. On the
previous day Elie had already scented something in the wind, and
when, on the Tuesday morning, he saw Madame Baron come back
from her marketings with a large bunch of flowers, his curiosity
became acute. So he laid an ambush—in other words, he left his
bedroom door open and stayed lurking in the background. Valesco
would be bound to pass the door sooner or later.
" Hullo, old chap! " Elie shouted to him. " Step in for a moment,
will you? "
" Sorry, Fm in a hurry."
" I only want a word with you. What's happening here today? "
Valesco would have preferred to hold his peace, but he owed
Elie three hundred francs, and saw no prospect of repaying them
in the near future.
" Oh, it's Monsieur Baron's birthday."
" So that's it. Look here! Will you do me a small service? I
don't feel like going out myself. Would you mind going to the
best florist's in the town and buying a bouquet? A really posh one,
don't you know? A hundred francs should be enough. Wait! I
must give a present too. Let's see.... I don't think he has a
fountain-pen. Will you please buy one? Choose one of the best
makes, please. Here's three hundred francs for the lot."
That morning there were frost-flowers on the panes and the
Rumanian's face was blurred almost out of recognition when Elie,
watching from his window, saw him crossing to the tram-stop.
A subtle, well-pleased smile lingered on Elie's lips when, after
donning his gorgeous smoking-jacket, he entered the kitchen,
where Madame Baron was engaged in trussing two fowls. There
was a knock at the hall door. It was the baker's boy delivering two
fruit tarts.
" Do please go back to your room, Monsieur Elie. Really you'll
make me quite annoyed if you stay in the kitchen."
And for once he complied with her request.
At noon Baron was still away. The midday meal was rushed
through; Madame Baron and Antoinette were both in their best
clothes, ready to go out immediately it ended.
Was it that Elie found they weren't taking enough notice of him,
and he resented being eclipsed by the domestic anniversary? Anyhow,
as the meal was ending, he thought fit to say, rather loudly,
to Valesco, who was seated beside him:
" Do you know, I've just thought of something rather interest-