The Count of Monte Cristo

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M. de Villefort replied by ordering the strictest inquiries to be
made respecting these two persons; his orders were executed, and the
following evening he received these details:--

"The abbe, who was in Paris only for a month, inhabited a small
two-storied house behind Saint-Sulpice; there were two rooms on each
floor and he was the only tenant. The two lower rooms consisted of a
dining-room, with a table, chairs, and side-board of walnut,--and a
wainscoted parlor, without ornaments, carpet, or timepiece. It was
evident that the abbe limited himself to objects of strict necessity. He
preferred to use the sitting-room upstairs, which was more library than
parlor, and was furnished with theological books and parchments, in
which he delighted to bury himself for months at a time, according to
his valet de chambre. His valet looked at the visitors through a sort
of wicket; and if their faces were unknown to him or displeased him, he
replied that the abbe was not in Paris, an answer which satisfied most
persons, because the abbe was known to be a great traveller. Besides,