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per?’
He made a sign of the head in the negative.
‘The stableman says that Monsieur’s horse is extremely
fat ig ued.’
Here he broke his silence.
‘Will not the horse be in a condition to set out again to-
morrow morning?’
‘Oh, Monsieur! he must rest for two days at least.’
He inquired:—
‘Is not the posting-station located here?’
‘Yes, sir.’
The hostess conducted him to the office; he showed his
passport, and inquired whether there was any way of re-
turning that same night to M. sur M. by the mail-wagon;
the seat beside the post-boy chanced to be vacant; he en-
gaged it and paid for it. ‘Monsieur,’ said the clerk, ‘do not
fail to be here ready to start at precisely one o’clock in the
morning.’
This done, he left the hotel and began to wander about
the town.
He was not acquainted with Arras; the streets were dark,
and he walked on at random; but he seemed bent upon not
asking the way of the passers-by. He crossed the little river
Crinchon, and found himself in a labyrinth of narrow al-
leys where he lost his way. A citizen was passing along with
a lantern. After some hesitation, he decided to apply to this
man, not without having first glanced behind and in front
of him, as though he feared lest some one should hear the
question which he was about to put.