Colbert Arcade at nine o'clock, either himself or another of their men

would be there, and would serve me as guide. We decided that in order to

make himself known, the messenger, when accosting me, should give the

password, "What is Joseph doing?"

I do not know whether he thought he noticed any doubt or mistrust on my

part. He suddenly interrupted himself, and said,--

"After all, you are not bound to believe me. One does not think of

everything: I ought to have asked them to give me a word in writing. At

a time like this one distrusts everybody."

"On the contrary," I said to him, "one trusts everybody. I will be in

the Colbert Arcade at nine o'clock."

And I left him.

I re-entered my asylum. I was tired, I was hungry, I had recourse to

Charamaule's chocolate and to a small piece of bread which I had still

left. I sank down into an arm-chair, I ate and I slept. Some slumbers

are gloomy. I had one of those slumbers, full of spectres; I again saw

the dead child and the two red holes in his forehead, these formed two

mouths: one said "Morny," and the other "Saint-Arnaud." History is not

made, however, to recount dreams. I will abridge. Suddenly I awoke. I

started: "If only it is not past nine o'clock!" I had forgotten to wind

up my watch. It had stopped. I went out hastily. The street was lonely,

the shops were shut. In the Place Louvos I heard the hour striking

(

probably from Saint Roch); I listened. I counted nine strokes. In a few

476

The History of a Crime