Were not our positions entirely similar?
But by degrees a hideous temptation began to creep into my heart, and, as the minutes passed by, assume more vivid color and more tangible reality.

Why should I not profit by this stolen secret?
I went to the desk and asked for some wafers and a Directory.
Then, returning, I fastened the torn fragments upon a clean sheet of paper, discovered the address of the writer, and then left the _cafe_.
The house was situated in the Rue Chaussee d'Autin.

For fully half an hour I paced up and down before his magnificent dwelling-place.

Was he alive?
Had the reply of Charles been in the affirmative?
I decided at last to venture, and rang the bell.

A liveried domestic appeared at my summons, and said that his master did not receive visitors at that hour; besides, he was at dinner.