Mr. Hobbs, once again checking the note in the notebook, headed for the mansion, which was hidden from a stranger by a high brick fence. A modest signboard was nailed on the gate of this citadel: “Private boarding house for orphans”. Parcel St. 14.

“It seems to be here,” thought Mr. Hobbs, and pressed a button. The elderly doorkeeper led Hobs into the house and introduced him to Madame Solbe, the hostess of the house. The office of Madame Solbe was more like a boudoir of a secular lady than a study - there are many paintings on the walls, one mirror wall, a wide bed covered with a pink blanket, a dressing table with chairs and perfume, two chairs, a pouf. There was a tape recorder on the windowsill, it somehow fell out of the general background and was not noticeable.

Madame Solbe least of all resembled the tenant of the poor boarding house. This splendid young Frenchwoman amazed Hobbs with her simplicity and cheerfulness.

“Yes, yes,” she exclaimed with joy, as soon as Hobbs appeared, it was just that we needed a doctor. It seems to me that girls will like you. I, in any case, you fit perfectly - she smiled.

- I am very glad, thank you for your frankness, you also liked me as a woman and as a hostess, I will be happy to serve you.

“And so,” Madame Solbe shot an intriguing look - the exchange of courtesies is over, please sit down, talk about business, she sank deep into the chair against Hobbs and her sturdy red legs, far above the knees, immediately caught my eye. Hobbs tried not to look at them.

- Do you already know anything about our boarding house?

- No, nothing but what is written in the ad.

“Excellent,” Madame Solbe said with pleasure, and she made it easier, more conveniently, having thrown one leg over the other. Hobs noticed that Madame did not wear gum and stockings were sewn with lace. Ignore the feet of the hostess failed.

“Our guesthouse,” said Madame, “after a minute of silence,” was intended for girls between the ages of 14 and 19. Now I have 9 girls - check. but in general there will be 20. When girls reach the age of majority we will arrange them to the best of our abilities and external data. Everything else you learn in the process work.

- How about housing, payment and daily routine? “Madame Solbe went to the window, turned on the tape recorder and said into the microphone:” Mr. John Hobbs was hired to work in a boarding house on May 24, 1962. He is assigned a room 10, meals at the expense of the guesthouse, without cigars and wine. The salary of 10,000 francs per month. Mr. Hobbs is obliged to monitor the health of girls at any time of the day, to provide them with necessary medical care, to make an examination once a week, leaving the guesthouse to inform the host where and for how long he is leaving. Mr. Hobbs is hired and obliged not to tell anyone about the hostel and its staff. Madame Solbe turned off the tape recorder and looked inquiringly at Hobs.

- Are you satisfied with the conditions?

“Well, then,” said Hobs thoughtfully - everything except for a full salary is not correct.

“I can’t change anything,” Madame Solbe said coldly, “if conditions do not suit you, I don’t delay you.” “She turned on the tape again, but to rewind.

- I will erase the record now and we will assume that our conversation did not take place, not knowing how you are, but I regret it - and her face became more complex. Hobbs jumped up from his chair: “For God's sake, I’m not going to give up the work at all because of the salary. I agree. I’m ready for anything,” Hobbs unexpectedly added: “... for you.” Madame Solbe raised her eyebrows.

“Sorry,” Hobs muttered, “let me not make excuses, otherwise I ...”

- No, no - Madame interrupted him.

- I am very glad that I liked you, I hope that this will help us in our work. After completing the official ceremony, Madame invited to visit the pension.

“Not badly arranged,” said Hobs with pleasure, after they returned to the hostess's office.

“It is not at all like the beggarly charity of orphans — someone at home, who finances this luxury?” The table had already prepared a table with a rich dinner. Madame invited Hobbs to eat.

- Darling Doc! Can I call you that?

- Please!

- In my opinion, such a reasonable person is better to be frank with you. Hobbs thanked Madame for the compliment with a nod of her head and again her graceful legs rushed into his eyes.

- Heck. - he swore to himself, - they are damn good.

- Of course, you understand to contain such a troublesome institution for your money without any benefit, I would not dare. Yes, besides it would not make sense. Please try caviar, just yesterday I brought it to me from Russia. After all, I am not yet old enough to engage in charity, but everyone wants to have their own business. I have already tried both in the cinema and in the theater, and even tried to play the stock market. In 1960, I married one broker. He was 42 years old older than me. This marriage was absurd to me. As a man, he was already done for. When we got married, he was already hopelessly ill. I really did not know, but I guessed that his health was not in order. So, let's drink.

- Have you lived with him for a long time?

“If what was between us to call married life, then I was 120 days.” She suddenly smiled sadly and leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes.

- Doc, pour me a rum, I want to get drunk today.

- Put a lemon?

- No pus will be pure rum. Yes so - she continued after they knocked over the wine glasses - 120 days, but my God, what a long torture it was. You doctor can tell you everything. Is not it? I grew up in a rich family. My father was a big merchant. I was brought up in the best guesthouses of Switzerland. I loved freedom, independence. It was proud and independent. When I was 16 years old, I was engaged to the son of a Marseille banker, I had an easy and carefree life. But everything collapsed. In 1957, my father got involved in some dark scam with Cuban sugar. He put all his capital into the business and got burned. We are left beggars. My father shot himself ... Pour me a rum. Thank you ... mother died the same year. I was left alone, I have no more relatives ... And why did not you drink?

- I'll drink later.

- No, drink now, you should get drunk, the fact that I will not talk can not be heard soberly. Drink it.

- Is it convenient to get drunk on the first day of work?

“I thought you were smarter,” Madame said evilly, with flashing eyes, “I wish I was mistaken.”

- Thanks for the compliment.

- Doc, you can go to rest, - she got up and went to the window and began to look through some papers, letting Hobs know that she was finished. Shameless fool, Hobs thought to himself, redder with shame and humiliation. Hobs stood up and bowed to the back of the hostess, headed for the door.

- You forgot to ask dear Doc yet! - slyly smiling, ska - hall hostess.

“I bowed to your charming back,” - Madame Solbe, she smiled at the joke, and then broke down and laughed.

- You responded well. I love witty people. “She returned to the table and stretched her legs. "About these legs" - flashed through the head at Khob - sa.

- Forgive me, Doc, I got excited. “Doc sat down.

- You have such beautiful legs. I just can not see enough of them.

- Do you like them? You will see enough of them. After all, I will not once again have ...