Rouault hatte den Brief des Apothekers sechsunddreißig Stunden nach dem Ereignis erhalten. Um ihn zu schonen, hatte Homais so geschrieben, daß er gar nicht genau wissen konnte, was eigentlich geschehen war.
He had only received the chemist's letter thirty-six hours after the event; and, from consideration for his feelings, Homais had so worded it that it was impossible to make out what it was all about.