He went first into the little lobby at the entrance, where the offices were.

Antoine had lighted a candle and left it on the desk of the bureau.

Otherwise he could have seen little in the room as the twilight was advancing fast, and the white gloom, made by the falling snow, was shading into gray.
He opened the front door.

There was nothing in the street.

The tower of the cathedral was almost hidden by the storm and the twilight and the gaunt ruins of the houses, covered now with snow, looked inexpressibly dreary and lonely.