OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER 67
Madame Baron opened her door and hurried across the street, purse
in hand.
There was a knock at Elie's door.
" Come in." He supposed it was Antoinette coming to replenish
the stove.
But it was Valesco who entered. He had a hat and overcoat on,
and some books under his arm.
" Well, I must say, you're nice and snug in here... . How's the
cold today? "
Elie didn't tumble to it at once, and felt quite pleased at this visit,
until the Rumanian, who was gazing out of the window, watching
Madame Baron haggling for a cauliflower, remarked in a would-be
casual tone:
" I say, I wonder if you could do me a small service? Our worthy
landlady's getting in quite a state because my monthly cheque from
home is overdue. That's what she thinks, anyhow. As a matter of
fact, it did turn up—ten days ago—but I've blued the lot. Could
you spare me three hundred francs, to tide me over till next week?
Got to help each other, haven't we, as we're under the same roof?
., Hullo! You use the same make of razor as I do. Strictly between
ourselves, though she's a very decent sort in her way, our landlady
has old-fashioned ideas about money. Not that she's more grasping
than most of that ilk, but—you know what I mean."
Without a word Elie unlocked the suitcase in which he kept his
wallet. He had a little over eight hundred francs in hand, the balance
of the note changed at the hairdresser's. He handed three hundredfranc
notes to Valesco, who stuffed them into his trouser-pocket
with rather overdone casualness.
" Do the same for you, old chap, another time."
A minute later his head could be seen passing, level with the
window-sill, in the direction of the town, while in the background
the little group of housewives went on ransacking the marketgardener's
baskets.
Elie had no clear idea of the effect this little incident had produced
on him. But somehow it had left him with a load on his mind, which,
he had a premonition, would not leave him throughout the day.
He stared moodily at the open wallet; then fell to counting what
remained. There were five hundred-franc notes, and besides these,
he remembered, he had some loose change in his pockets.
Say, five hundred and forty francs, all told.
Literally all told—for he had not a sou more in the world. The