Desiree saw him smile for the first time, in the dim light of the
passage.
"They are there in the street," he said; "I have seen them. I
thought you would come to Barlasch. They all do--the women. In
here. Leave him to me. When they ring the bell, receive them
yourself--with smiles. They are only men. Let them search the
house if they want to. Tell them he has gone to the reception with
Mademoiselle."
As he spoke the bell rang just above his head. He looked up at it
and laughed.
"Ah, ah!" he said, "the fanfare begins."
He drew Sebastian within and closed the door of his little room.
Lisa had already gone to answer the bell. When she opened the door
three men stepped quickly over the threshold, and one of them,
thrusting her aside, closed the door and turned the key. Desiree,
in her white evening dress, on the bottom step, just beneath the
lamp that hung from the ceiling, made them pause and look at each
other. Then one of the three came towards her, hat in hand.
"Our duty, Fraulein," he said awkwardly. "We are but obeying
orders. A mere formality. It will all be explained, no doubt, if
the householder, Antoine Sebastian, will put on his hat and come
with us."
"His hat is not there, as you see," answered Desiree. "You must
seek him elsewhere."
The man shook his head with a knowing smile. "We must seek him in
this house," he said. "We will make it as easy for you as we can,
Fraulein--if you make it easy for us.
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