He would have begun to feel alarmed for her, but, what with the cold and the early hour, the place was deserted; no idle gazers such as a commotion leaves behind it were to be seen.

The wind, however, began to pierce his clothes; he had not brought his cloak, and he shivered.

He knocked more loudly.
Perhaps she had been called to her mother?
That must be it.

She had gone upstairs and could not on the instant leave her charge.

He clothed himself in reproaches; but they did not warm him, and he was beginning to stamp his feet again when, happening to look down, he saw beside the water-can and partly hidden by its bulge, a packet about the size of a letter, but a little thicker.