The woman looked at her curiously and then said, ‘Out of here and turn left. Follow the street to the end and then turn right, then ask again.’

Hélène thanked her and went back outside. As she turned the corner she heard someone speak her name and, spinning round, found herself face to face with Jeannot.

‘Bread smells good,’ he said. ‘Come on, let’s go back to your apartment and have something to eat.’

‘Jeannot!’ Hélène could hardly believe her eyes. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘What’s it look like? Looking after you, of course. But what you thought you was doing, going back to your house when you know everyone’s on the lookout for you, I don’t know!’

‘How do you know that’s where I’ve been?’ demanded Hélène, a little of her usual spirit returning now that she had him with her.

‘Because,’ he said, ‘I followed you there. Saw you come out of the apartment and wondered where you was off.’

‘You’ve been following me?’ Hélène stared at him. ‘All the way?’

‘Yeah. Didn’t want you running into no trouble, did I?’

‘Well, I didn’t, did I?’ Hélène rounded on him. ‘I got away from that man without your help, didn’t I?’

‘Yeah, when you heard me shout,’ Jeannot concurred with a grin. ‘But he weren’t important, he was only after a bit of fun. No, Hélène, it was the one what was following you back from your house. Wanted to find out where you was hiding, I guess. Work for your fiancé, does he?’

‘No one saw me,’ Hélène asserted hotly. ‘And no one’s following me.’

‘Well, they aren’t now,’ Jeannot agreed as they began to walk down the street. ‘When you ran, he was after you. He ran, but I was faster. A kick in the right place sorted him. ’Spect he’ll be waddling for a few days to come yet.’

‘Someone really was following me?’ Hélène glanced over her shoulder.

‘He ain’t there now,’ Jeannot assured her. ‘And he still don’t know where you live. Doubt if he has any idea, cos you was walking round in circles. Now, are we going to get back to your place before that bread’s gone cold?’

He set off through a myriad of back lanes and very soon Hélène found herself walking down the narrow street that led to Agathe’s apartment building.

She led the way upstairs and opened the front door. Jeannot followed her in and looked round.

‘Not bad,’ he said. ‘Not bad at all. Not quite like your house, though, is it? That why you went back?’

‘No, of course not.’ Hélène went into the small kitchen and put some broth on to heat. Within ten minutes they were sitting at the table with the broth, the fresh bread and a hunk of cheese.

‘Now then,’ Jeannot said as he broke a piece from the baguette and dipped it in the broth. ‘Tell me what on earth’s going on.’

‘It’s a long story…’ Hélène began.