I know all about the clocks that don't keep proper time, and all the people who never lost sight of you.

In the meantime, this is what you did.

At twenty minutes past eight, you slipped away adroitly; at thirty-five minutes past eight, you took the train at the St Lazare station; at nine o'clock, you alighted at the station at Rueil, and took the road to La Jonchere; at a quarter past nine, you knocked at the window-shutter of Widow Lerouge's cottage.

You were admitted.

You asked for something to eat, and, above all, something to drink.