Midnight
At ten-thirty , as my cab buzzed into the square and pulled up at the curb , the electric signs were blazing , the sidewalks were , if not yet crowded , at least well filled , and the sounds of music from the open windows of The Dead Rat and the other cafes with the cheerful names were mingling with noises of the street . Monsieur Louis had given me my sailing orders , so to speak . He had told me that arriving at L'Abbaye before ten-thirty was quite useless . Midnight was the accepted hour , he said ; prior to that I would find it rather dull , triste . But after that -- Ah , Monsieur would , at least , be entertained . `` But of course Monsieur does not expect to find the young lady of whom he is in search there , '' he said . `` A relative is she not ? ''