He had told himself there was no hope; but he knew by the bitter pang he felt now that he had hoped to the last.

Then he walked slowly away to tell the news.
There were comparatively few people about the streets, and these all of the lower order.

Every shop was closed.

Men with scared faces stood at some of the doors to gather the news from passers-by, and pale women looked timidly from the upper windows.

When he reached the house he could not summon courage to enter it, but stood for a long time outside, until at last he saw Louise Moulin put her head from the window.