I believe them to be honest." "Yet they've been arrested ?" "What does that prove ?--But I don't want to mix myself up in other people's affairs." "And what do you think of the murder ?" "Of the murder of poor Mademoiselle Stangerson ?--A good girl much loved everywhere in the country.

That's what I think of it--and many things besides; but that's nobody's business." "Not even mine ?" insisted Rouletabille.
The innkeeper looked at him sideways and said gruffly: "Not even yours." The omelette ready, we sat down at table and were silently eating, when the door was pushed open and an old woman, dressed in rags, leaning on a stick, her head doddering, her white hair hanging loosely over her wrinkled forehead, appeared on the threshold.
"Ah!--there you are, Mother Angenoux!--It's long since we saw you last," said our host.
"I have been very ill, very nearly dying," said the old woman.

"If ever you should have any scraps for the Bete du Bon Dieu-- ?" And she entered, followed by a cat, larger than any I had ever believed could exist.

The beast looked at us and gave so hopeless a miau that I shuddered.

I had never heard so lugubrious a cry.
As if drawn by the cat's cry a man followed the old woman in.