"The great thing is to exclude the air," she said quickly. "Then you
mean to be on the lookout for these grand robbers, M. Plon?"
"Yes, instead of idling away my time up here," he said, rolling towards
the door. "But you women dearly love a little gossip, don't you? And
though you are not the best of managers, Madame Didier, no one can say
you don't work with industry. So keep a good heart. You shall hear if I
get the reward."
As the sound of his heavy footsteps creaked down the stairs, Jean came
out and flung himself on the chair which M. Plon had occupied.
"Now that that old idiot has taken himself off, let's see what he was
talking about."
"Is it true about the robbery?" asked Marie, leaning over his shoulder.
"So it seems."
"And the reward?"
"Twelve thousand francs."
"Twelve thousand francs!" repeated his wife in amazement. "Oh, you must
be mistaken!"
"There are the figures at any rate, see for yourself."
"Yes, I see. I suppose it must be so, as it is in the paper;
but--but--if we could only have a little part of it!"
"Ah, if!" said Jean with a shrug. "But how will you manage? Stand about
the corners of the Streets and ask every _escarpe_ that passes?"
"I could almost do that," his wife answered stoutly, "when I reflect
that with money we might have an advocate, and you might be free.
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