He turned red. 'It was an oversight,' he stammered 'Clon is
accustomed to lock the door, and he did it inadvertently,
forgetting that there was anyone--'

'Inside,' I said drily.

'Precisely, Monsieur.'

'Ah!' I replied. 'Well, I do not think the oversight would
please Madame de Cocheforet if she heard of it?'

'If Monsieur would have the kindness not to--'

'Mention it, my good fellow?' answered, looking at him with
meaning as I rose. 'No. But it must not occur again.'

I saw that this man was not like Clon. He had the instincts of
the family servant, and freed from the influences of fear and
darkness felt ashamed of his conduct. While he arranged my
clothes, he looked round the room with an air of distaste, and
muttered once or twice that the furniture of the principal
chambers was packed away.

'M. de Cocheforet is abroad, I think?' I said as I dressed.

'And likely to remain there,' the man answered carelessly,
shrugging his shoulders. 'Monsieur will doubtless have heard
that he is in trouble. In the meantime, the house is TRISTE, and
Monsieur must overlook much, if he stays. Madame lives retired,