He ascended to his room, and there he shut himself up, which was a very simple act, since he liked to go to bed early.
Nevertheless, the portress of the factory, who was, at the same time, M. Madeleine''s only servant, noticed that the latter''s light was extinguished at half-past eight, and she mentioned it to the cashier when he came home, adding:--
"Is Monsieur le Maire ill?
I thought he had a rather singular air."
This cashier occupied a room situated directly under M. Madeleine''s chamber.
He paid no heed to the portress''s words, but went to bed and to sleep.
Towards midnight he woke up with a start; in his sleep he had heard a noise above his head.
He listened; it was a footstep pacing back and forth, as though some one were walking in the room above him.
He listened more attentively, and recognized M. Madeleine''s step.
This struck him as strange; usually, there was no noise in M. Madeleine''s chamber until he rose in the morning.
A moment later the cashier heard a noise which resembled that of a cupboard being opened, and then shut again; then a piece of furniture was disarranged; then a pause ensued; then the step began again.
The cash