CROSSING
PARIS
565
to come back for such reasons. Get it into your head that Mariette
wasn't thinking of money when we started in together. I make a
living, of course, but for a woman with expensive tastes it isn't life
on Easy Street, either. I don't want to boast, but that woman loved
me sincerely. And- I am sure of it-she still loves me."
"So much the better, then. You have everything your own way.
What are you worrying about?"
Martin sensed that Grandgil was irritated, and he brooded in
silence over his difficulties and his sorrow. While he ruminated thus,
it seemed to him for the space of a second that he could distinguish
the sound of an approaching step, but when he listened closely he
heard it no longer. Grandgil had just thrown away his cigarette. They
were coming to a street crossing, and the black shadow in which they
were walking .abreast was broken by a streak of moonlight five or
six paces wide. As they landed on the opposite sidewalk, a man's
voice came from the shadow three yards in front of them, and
ordered with a marked southern accent:
"Stop! What's in those valises you're carrying?"
"Before taking that tone," said Martin pointedly, "you'd do well
to announce yourself."
At the first words of the man, he had distinguished, against the
shutters of a brightly lighted shop, the outline of a police officer.
But feigning ignorance, he took the liberty of ignoring the summons
and thus gained a few seconds, time enough to get out of the lighted
zone in which the two companions were finding themselves at a dis–
advantage in regard to the officer.
"You saw me perfectly well. Don't act the fool."
"I believe you, if you say so. Anyway, I'm very glad I ran into
you. I was just looking for somebody that could show me how to get
to Sevigne Street."
"You're going .away from it."
"You don't tell me! Say, you, did you hear that? Sevigne Street
is behind us. You are the one that got us into this."
In order to get into the game, it was up to Grandgil to pro–
test, and to enter into a discussion with Martin in which the policeman
would find himself in the flattering position of mediator, which would
have created a friendly atmosphere. Grandgil failed to take it in .and
remained silent.
