He needed his heavy overcoat and he was able to secure it unobserved, because Julie had gone up to her room, and Antoine and Suzanne had disappeared in the back regions of the hotel.
He had a faint hope that when he returned to the lobby he might find Weber there, but it was still lone and silent, and drawing the collar well about his ears and throat he thrust himself out into the snow.
Turning his back to the driving flakes he walked eastward, searching everywhere through the advancing twilight.

Weber, of course, knew of their presence in the hotel as he had seen their names on the register, and the lighted candle on the bureau.

It must have been a sudden alarm that called him away so quickly, else he would have gone in at once, and have spoken to his friends.
Unfortunately the night was coming fast.

Thick gray gloom clothed the whole east, and but little light showed in the west.

Looking back he saw no light in the hotel, but that was to be expected, as Picard would certainly loop the curtains heavily over the windows.