This was done so quickly that Chupin barely had time to fling two
francs to his driver and rush after her. She had already turned
round the corner of the Rue du Helder, and was walking rapidly up
the street. It was a little after five o'clock, and dusk was
setting in. Madame d'Argeles had taken the side of the street
allotted to the uneven numbers. After she had passed the Hotel de
Homburg, she slackened her pace, and eagerly scrutinized one of
the houses opposite--No. 48. Her examination lasted but a moment,
and seemed to be satisfactory. She then turned, and rapidly
retraced her steps as far as the boulevard, when, crossing the
street to the side of the even numbers, she walked up it again
very slowly, stopping before every shop-window.
Convinced that he had almost reached the goal, Chupin also
crossed, and followed closely at her heels. He soon saw her start
and resume her rapid gait. A young man was coming toward her so
quickly indeed that she had not time to avoid him, and a collision
ensued, whereupon the young man gave vent to an oath, and hurling
an opprobrious epithet in her face, passed on.
Chupin shuddered. "What if that should be her son?" he thought.
And while he pretended to be gazing into a shop window, he
stealthily watched the poor woman. She had paused, and he was so
near that he could almost have touched her. He saw her raise her
veil and follow her insulter with a look which it was impossible
to misunderstand.
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