OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER "5
Sylvie rounded on him.
" Keep your mouth shut!"
Beads of sweat glistened on Elie's upper lip and he had cut his
chin, shaving. He had on the smart grey suit that he had worn on
board the Th&ophik-Gautier.
He looked out into the yard and, tilting his head back, measured
the height of the white wall, above which stretched a dazzling
expanse of bright blue sky. Madame Baron started sobbing again,
and moaned:
" Do speak, someone. . . . Isn't there anything we can do? "
She couldn't bring herself to look at Elie. Moise had turned away
and was staring at the wall. Valesco made a hasty move, and ran
up to his room.
" There's nothing to be done," said Sylvie gravely. " If there
had been, I'd have done it/'
For some reason Elie had drawn closer to Antoinette, and she
did not move away. He fixed his eyes on her and their expression
was so strange that, when he made as if to lay his hand on her
shoulder, the girl screamed and threw herself into her mother's
arms.
Valesco came racing down the stairs.
" They're here! " he cried.
The engine of a car was throbbing outside the door. There
was a clatter of footsteps on the pavement, a sound of voices.
Elie swung round so quickly that everyone fell back in alarm,
and just as the door-bell rang he dashed out and scrambled up
the stairs.
" Oh, dear! " wailed Madame Baron, clasping Antoinette to her
breast. " He'll wake your pa! "
Valesco remained in his room, and it was Sylvie who opened
the door. Three dark forms could be seen outlined against the
sunlight.
" So you got here first," laughed one of the men. " Not been up
to any tricks, I hope? "
The detective who had interviewed her at the Merryland
promptly opened the first door, saw the suitcases marked E. N. and,
stooping, looked under the bed.
" Where is he? "
The French police officer was smoking a cigarette on the doorstep,
and appeared to take no interest in the proceedings*
" Upstairs," Sylvie replied.
E