"Very well," said I, "I'll see his friend, the Englishman who arrived this evening.

I have an appointment with him." "Ah, I understand.

I remember.

Is it not that Monsieur has been here already?
He now returns, as he mentioned that he might do ?" Again my thoughts made haste to arrange themselves.

The "monsieur" who had called had probably also arrived late, after the concierge had gone to bed in his dim box, and become too drowsy to notice such details as the difference between voices, especially if they were those of foreigners.