May 4, 5 A.M.
As the marquis was preparing to read a voluminous memorandum refuting a chapter in Tallemant des Reaux ' `` Historiettes '' which did not redound to the credit of the great house of Sallenauve , the wise organist remarked that it was time we dined , if we intended to keep an appointment already made for seven o'clock at the office of Maitre Achille Pigoult the notary . We dined , not at the table-d'hote , but in private , and the dinner seemed very long on account of the silent preoccupation of the marquis , and the slowness with which , owing to his loss of teeth , he swallowed his food . At seven o'clock we went to the notary 's office ; but as it is now two o'clock in the morning , and I am heavy with sleep , I shall put off till to-morrow an account of what happened there . May 4 , 5 A.M. I reckoned on peaceful slumbers , embellished by dreams . On the contrary , I did not sleep an hour , and I have waked up stung to the heart by an odious thought . But before I transmit that thought to you , I must tell you what happened at the notary 's . Maitre Achille Pigoult , a puny little man , horribly pitted with the small-pox , and afflicted with green spectacles , above which he darts glances of vivacious intelligence , asked us if we felt warm enough , the room having no fire .