Not too quiet and monotonous, of course, as it would
then become wearisome."
He unfolded a detailed plan of the apartment.
"Let me commence by locating myself. Here, I see the vestibule in
which I am sitting. On the street front, the drawing-room, the
boudoir and dining-room. Useless to waste any time there, as it
appears that the countess has a deplorable taste....not a
bibelot of any value!...Now, let's get down to business!...
Ah! here is a corridor; it must lead to the bed chambers. At a
distance of three metres, I should come to the door of the
wardrobe-closet which connects with the chamber of the countess."
He folded his plan, extinguished his lantern, and proceeded down
the corridor, counting his distance, thus:
"One metre....two metres....three metres....Here is
the door....Mon Dieu, how easy it is! Only a small, simple bolt
now separates me from the chamber, and I know that the bolt is
located exactly one metre, forty-three centimeters, from the floor.
So that, thanks to a small incision I am about to make, I can soon
get rid of the bolt."
He drew from his pocket the necessary instruments. Then the
following idea occurred to him:
"Suppose, by chance, the door is not bolted.
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