OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

So MAINLY MAIGRET
wasn't a Sunday—so what on earth did she mean by that last
remark?
" No, we don't need a taxi," she said to the commissionaire as
they stepped on to the pavement. And, linking her arm with the
young man's, she said almost affectionately: " Let's take a tram."
VIII
NOW and again Elie opened his eyes and saw heads bobbing past,
level with his window-sill, in the bleak morning light. He learnt
it was a Friday, for amongst the others he saw Madame Baron go
by with a hat on—which meant that she was on her way to the
weekly market in the Square. Domb, too, had gone out, and a
sound of slippered footsteps overhead told him that Valesco was
up and dressing.
For the fourth or fifth time he dozed off; he made a point of
staying in bed until the other lodgers had gone out and he could
be sure of having the place to himself. The trouble was that every
five minutes the clanging of a tram-bell jerked him awake and, as
the tram-stop was almost in front of his window, it was hopeless
trying to get to sleep till it had started off again.
The postman passed. A letter rattled in the letter-box and Elie
was in half a mind to get up and see for whom it was; but his
energy failed him and he rolled over, with his face towards the wall.
How much more time went by? In a half-dream he seemed to hear
Valesco going out. Then, with the dramatic suddenness of a shot
fired -in a crowd, his door banged. Someone had come in, and
before Elie had time to turn his head, a hand snatched back the
counterpane which he had pulled up over his chin.
Something, perhaps the rustle of a dress, perhaps a whiff of
scent, told him it was Antoinette; otherwise he'd have postponed
opening his eyes. Her face was so white that the freckles showed
like angry blotches. With a severe look she handed him a sheet of
paper.
" Read this."
" What's the time? "
" Damn the time! Read it!"