There for eighteen sous he dined, or rather supped, like a prince;
and as he subsequently treated himself to a cup of coffee and a
glass of brandy, as a reward for his toil, some little time had
elapsed when he returned to the office. However, No. 2140 had not
returned in his absence, so he stationed himself at the door to
wait for it.
His patience was severely tried, for it was past midnight when
Chupin saw the long-looked-for vehicle enter the courtyard. The
driver slowly descended from his box and then went into the
cashier's office to pay over his day's earnings, and hand in his
report. Then he came out again evidently bound for home. As the
servant-woman had said, he was a stout, jovial-faced man, and he
did not hesitate to accept a glass of "no matter what" in a wine-
shop that was still open. Whether he believed the story that
Chupin told to excuse his questions or not, at all events he
answered them very readily. He perfectly remembered having been
sent to the Rue d'Ulm, and spoke of his "fare" as a respectable-
looking old lady, enumerated the number of her trunks, boxes, and
packages, and even described their form. He had taken her to the
railway station, stopping at the entrance in the Rue d'Amsterdam;
and when the porters inquired, as usual, "Where is this baggage to
go?" the old lady had answered, "To London.
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