The landlady of the hotel entered. “Does Monsieur wish a bed? Does Monsieur require supper?” He made a sign of the head in the negative. “The stableman says that Monsieur’s horse is extremely fatigued.” Here he broke his silence. “Will not the horse be in a condition to set out again to-morrow morning?” “Oh, Monsieur! he must rest for two days at least.” He inquired:— “Is not the posting-station located here?” “Yes, sir.” The hostess conducted him to the office; he showed his passport, and inquired whether there was any way of returning that same night to M. sur M. by the mail-wagon; the seat beside the post-boy chanced to be vacant; he engaged it and paid for it. “Monsieur,” said the clerk, “do not fail to be here ready to start at precisely one o’clock in the morning.” This done, he left the hotel and began to wander about the town. He was not acquainted with Arras; the streets were dark, and he walked on at random; but he seemed bent upon not asking the way of the passers-by. He crossed the little river Crinchon, and found himself in a labyrinth of narrow alleys where he lost his way. A citizen was passing along with a lantern. After some hesitation, he decided to apply to this man, not without having first glanced behind and in front of him, as though he feared lest some one should hear the question which he was about to put. “Monsieur,” said he, “where is the court-house, if you please.” “You do not belong in town, sir?” replied the bourgeois, who was an oldish man; “well, follow me. I happen to be going in the direction of the court-house, that is to say, in the direction of the hotel of the prefecture; for the court-house is undergoing repairs just at this moment, and the courts are holding their sittings provisionally in the prefecture.” “Is it there that the Assizes are held?” he asked. “Certainly, sir; you see, the prefecture of to-day was the bishop’s palace before the Revolution. M. de Conzié, who was bishop in ’82, built a grand hall there. It is in this grand hall that the court is held.” On the way, the bourgeois said to him:— “If Monsieur desires to witness a case, it is rather late. The sittings generally close at six o’clock.” When they arrived on the grand square, however, the man pointed out to him four long windows all lighted up, in the front of a vast and gloomy building. “Upon my word, sir, you are in luck; you have arrived in season. Do you see those four windows? That is the Court of Assizes. There is light there, so they are not through. The matter must have been greatly protracted, and they are holding an evening session. Do you take an interest in this affair? Is it a criminal case? Are you a witness?” He replied:— “I have not come on any business; I only wish to speak to one of the lawyers.” “That is different,” said the bourgeois. “Stop, sir; here is the door where the sentry stands. You have only to ascend the grand staircase.”