Julia put a finger on her mouth, as a sign for the old servant to be silent. Presently the barber was heard calling Marguerite; who was trembling so that she did not know how to stand. "Tell him that you are going down," said Julia. Marguerite approached the door, then, thinking she heard her master coming upstairs,-- "Here he is--he'll see you," said she to Julia. "You must hide me." "Wait, I had forgotten it--quick--quick--in this closet." Marguerite ran to her alcove, passed behind the bed, opened the little door hidden by the tapestry, and Julia, as quick as lightning, entered the closet. The old servant shut the door on her, took her lamp and hastened to go downstairs. Her master was in the lower room. "You were very slow in coming down," said the barber, looking at Marguerite. "Monsieur, at my age one cannot move quickly." "Has anybody been here during my absence?" "No, monsieur, nobody." "Urbain, perhaps?" "I assure you I haven't seen him." "Chaudoreille?" "No, nor him either." The barber asked for what he needed and then made a sign to Marguerite to retire. "Is monsieur going to stay up late?" asked she. "What does that matter to you?" asked Touquet looking sternly at her, "I've already told you that I hate curious people as well as gossips." "That's true. I'm going to bed, monsieur." The old woman regained her room, closed the door carefully, and then went to release Julia, who had remained without a light in the little closet. "Come, madame," said she, "come, you needn't stay in there now." "A moment," said Julia, taking the lamp from Marguerite's hand, "I should like to examine this place." "Oh, mercy! you will find nothing curious there. We went into it once, Blanche and I--" "There is a door here," said Julia holding the light to the wall at the back. "A door? do you think so? We didn't see it, but then we only remained for a moment and without a light." Julia tried to open the door which led to the staircase, but she was not successful. "This door is closed from the other side," said she, "it must communicate with some secret passage." "What does it matter to you, madame? Come, I beg of you." "It matters greatly to me. Oh, if I could acquire some proof to undo him." "Proof of what, madame?" "It's impossible to force this door." Julia lowered the lamp and examined the floor to see if she could discover a trap door, while Marguerite remained at the entrance to the alcove to listen if her master should come up. "What is in this big chest?" said Julia. "It is empty, as you see. I don't know what use it is here, I shall burn it some day."