Having dressed, he left his room on tiptoe, because he was not at all desirous to be overheard by Fifine, who was also a very early riser; but he met no one in the hall, and arrived safely in the street, where he looked in vain for his cabriolet.
"The devil! not here yet!" he muttered, looking at his watch. "Ah! it’s only six o’clock; but no matter: if I choose to go to drive at six o’clock, I am at perfect liberty to do it."
He went back into the passage, uncertain whether he should sally forth on foot or wait for his carriage; but, hearing a noise on the stairs, and fearing that it might be Fifine, he decided to go out.
Robineau bent his steps toward his notary’s, but when he reached the house the concierge was just rising.
"I am going to the office!" he called out as he hurried across the courtyard.
"There’s nobody there," the concierge replied. And so it proved; Robineau found the office door locked and went back to the concierge.
"What does this mean? Haven’t the clerks arrived yet?"
"Why, it’s too early, monsieur; the clerks never come to the office at six in the morning."
"Is monsieur le notaire at home?"
"He certainly hasn’t gone out yet. I suppose he’s asleep with his wife."