“Alas!

no; for I was occupied in examining some excellent figures.”

“Go on — go on, Monsieur Moliere. I quite understand the interest you take in the plates — I will not disturb your studies.”

“Thank you.”

“But on one condition; that you tell me where M. Percerin really is.”

“Oh! willingly; in his own room. Only — ”

“Only that one can’t enter it?”

“Unapproachable.”

“For everybody?”

“Everybody. He brought me here so that I might be at my ease to make my observations, and then he went away.”