two o’clock in the afternoon
Seeing all that money on your table , I could not resist the happiness of freeing my grandfather from his danger . I borrowed , without your consent , four thousand francs of you ; but as three thousand three hundred were all that was necessary , I send the other seven hundred in money , together with a gold snuff-box set with diamonds , given to my grandfather by the Emperor , the value of which will probably cover the whole sum . In case you do not believe in the honor of him who will forever regard you as a benefactor , I pray you to keep silence about an act which would be quite unjustifiable under other circumstances ; for by so doing you will save my grandfather 's life , just as you are saving my mother 's life ; and I shall be forever Your devoted servant , Auguste de Mergi . About half-past two o'clock in the afternoon , Auguste , who went himself as far as the Champs Elysees , sent the package from there by a street messenger to Doctor Halpersohn 's house ; then he walked slowly homeward by the pont de Jena , the Invalides , and the boulevards , relying on Halpersohn 's generosity . The Polish doctor had meanwhile discovered the theft , and he instantly changed his opinion of his clients . He now thought the old man had come to rob him , and being unable to succeed , had sent the boy . He doubted the rank they had claimed , and went straight to the police-office where he lodged a complaint , requesting that the lad might be arrested at once .