Finding himself unmolested, however, and all quiet, he went off steadily down the street--towards the Chateau.
I let a couple of minutes go by, and then I followed.

I had no difficulty in hitting on the track at the end of the street, but when I had once plunged into the wood, I found myself in darkness so intense that I soon strayed from the path, and fell over roots, and tore my clothes with thorns, and lost my temper twenty times before I found the path again.

However, I gained the bridge at last, and thence caught sight of a light twinkling before me.

To make for it across the meadow and terrace was an easy task; yet, when I had reached the door and had hammered upon it, I was so worn out, and in so sorry a plight that I sank down, and had little need to play a part, or pretend to be worse than I was.
For a long time no one answered.

The dark house towering above me remained silent.