moments I was under the Colbert Arcade. I peered into the darkness. No

one was under the Arcade.

I felt that it was impossible to remain there, and have the appearance

of waiting about; near the Colbert Arcade there is a police-station, and

the patrols were passing every moment. I plunged into the street. I

found no one there. I went as far as the Rue Vivienne. At the corner of

the Rue Vivienne a man was stopping before a placard and was trying to

deface it or to tear it down. I drew near this man, who probably took me

for a police agent, and who fled at the top of his speed. I retraced my

steps. Near the Colbert Arcade, and just as I reached the point in the

street where they post the theatrical bills, a workman passed me, and

said quickly, "What is Joseph doing?"

I recognized the last-maker.

"Come," he said to me.

We set out without speaking and without appearing to know each other, he

walking some steps before me.

We first went to two addresses, which I cannot mention here without

pointing out victims for the proscription. In these two houses we got no

news; no one had come there on the part of the societies.

Let us go to the third place," said the last-maker, and he explained to

me that they had settled among them three successive meeting-places, in

case of need, so as to be always sure of finding each other if,

477

The History of a Crime