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Probably, Monsieur Gabelle passed a long night up there, with the

distant chateau for fire and candle, and the beating at his door,

combined with the joy-ringing, for music; not to mention his

having an ill-omened lamp slung across the road before his

posting-house gate, which the village showed a lively inclination

to displace in his favour. A trying suspense, to be passing a

whole summer night on the brink of the black ocean, ready to take

that plunge into it upon which Monsieur Gabelle had resolved!

But, the friendly dawn appearing at last, and the rush-candles of

the village guttering out, the people happily dispersed, and

Monsieur Gabelle came down bringing his life with him for that

while.