The thought of the concierge at the bottom of the stairs, insistent for the rent, frightened her.

She stood on the pavement and burst into tears.

A few people stopped and watched her curiously, and went on again.

Finally a sergent-de-ville told her to go away.
The girl moved on with the tears running down her cheeks.

She was desperate, she was lonely.
"I thought of throwing myself into the Seine," said Celia simply, in telling her story to the Juge d'Instruction.