in the crook of his left arm he carried a fencing-mask, a thing of
leather with a wire grating to protect the eyes. His keen glance
played over Andre-Louis from head to foot.
"Monsieur?" he inquired, politely.
It was clear that he mistook Andre-Louis' quality, which is not
surprising, for despite his sadly reduced fortunes, his exterior was
irreproachable, and M. des Amis was not to guess that he carried
upon his back the whole of his possessions.
"You have a notice below, monsieur," he said, and from the swift
lighting of the fencing-master's eyes he saw that he had been
correct in his assumption that applicants for the position had not
been jostling one another on his threshold. And then that flash of
satisfaction was followed by a look of surprise.
"You are come in regard to that?"
Andre-Louis shrugged and half smiled. "One must live," said he.
"But come in. Sit down there. I shall be at your.... I shall be
free to attend to you in a moment."
Andre-Louis took a seat on the bench ranged against one of the
whitewashed walls.
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