CHAPTER 1<br > ~<br > Paris was cold and uninviting.<br > Autumn rains had drenched the streets for two days， and the<br >ancient buildings gave off a dank smell of wet stone and decay.<br > No traffic moved through rue de Caumartin， but cars had<br >been parked for the night along the curbs on both sides.<br > Shop windows were iron-shuttered for the weekend， the apart-<br >ments overhead curtained and dark. This was Sunday night and<br >their occupants had retired early in anticipation of the week<br >ahead.<br > One streetlamp glimmered faintly at a far corner， where head-<br >lights from an occasional car flashed past on the boulevards， its<br >globe circled by a nimbus of haze.<br > A gray cat soggy with moisture crouched in a shallow en-<br >trance， out of the rain， its body a dark blur against the lighter<br >gray of a marble doorstep. Only its eyes moved， turning in reac-<br >tion to the sound of footsteps.<br > The figure of a man loomed out of the night， coming down<br >the street past the dark theater， leather heels echoing on the pave-<br >ment. He wore a hat， pulled down to keep the drizzle away from<br >his eyes， his face a featureless blank under the brim. Both trouser<br >legs were splashed with rain， and a light-colored raincoat was<br >buttoned to the throat.<br > His breath shot out in ghostly spurts， exhaled in sudden gulps，<br >as though he might be having difficulty breathing.<br > He held his body curiously straight， his legs moving swiftly<br >and feet stepping cautiously， although there was no ice on the<br >pavement.<br > The cat s eyes turned slowly as the stranger passed， observing<br >him， then it lowered its damp head and settled down for the<br >night.<br > No one else watched as the man swayed slightly， then straight-<br >ened again and went on， even more carefully， toward the distant<br >streetlamp.<br > Another few steps， then he wavered and changed direction，<br >