Things continued to grow worse and worse until at last Paul spent the few last sous they had on two small loaves and a herring.

They did not have even wood to fry the herring and were compelled to use the stump of a candle, which remained, to cook it with.

Before retiring that night, Paul suggested to the Count the necessity of their trying to get some work, to which the Count replied that he would prefer death any time to the idea of going to work.

Long before daylight Paul slipped quietly out of bed, dressed himself in his old uniform and proceeded in the direction of the docks.

Near one of the bridges he saw a large group of men standing.