Choosing a pretext, he obtained permission from his chief to absent himself for a couple of hours, and hastened to the Arcade of the Pont Neuf.
The dealer in imitation jewelry was seated just opposite the door of the passage, and he had to wait until she was busy, until some young work-girl came to purchase a ring or a brooch made of brass.

Then, rapidly entering the passage, he ascended the narrow, dark staircase, leaning against the walls which were clammy with damp.

He stumbled against the stone steps, and each time he did so, he felt a red-hot iron piercing his chest.

A door opened, and on the threshold, in the midst of a gleam of white light he perceived Therese, who closing the door after him, threw her arms about his neck.
Laurent was astonished to find his sweetheart handsome.

He had never seen her before as she appeared to him then.