第四十五章 The Rain of Blood
This is Chapter 45, “The Rain of Blood”, which chronicles the violent murder of a jeweller at the inn of Caderousse and La Carconte, the narrator’s wrongful arrest for the crime, and his eventual exoneration with the help of Abbé Busoni.
The Jeweller’s Return
A jeweller returns to Caderousse and La Carconte’s apartment and casts a scrutinizing glance around the space, finding no immediate cause for suspicion. Caderousse clutches the gold and banknotes the pair recently obtained, while La Carconte greets the jeweller with unusually warm, welcoming smiles.
Counting the Fortune
The jeweller jokes that the pair seem to have doubted the accuracy of their money, given how carefully they counted it while he was away. Caderousse explains their sudden, unexpected wealth felt so unreal that they needed to physically count the cash and gold to convince themselves it was not a dream.
Lodging the Guest
The jeweller asks if the pair have other guests, and Caderousse says they do not lodge travelers, as their tavern is located very near the town. The jeweller worries he will inconvenience them, but La Carconte insists he is welcome, and offers the overhead chamber (their usual sleeping room) for his stay, noting a second bed is available in the adjoining space, which surprises Caderousse.
Preparing Supper
The jeweller warms his back by the fire La Carconte kindled to dry his wet travel clothes, while she prepares his supper by laying out the remains of the pair’s dinner plus a few fresh eggs on a napkin. Caderousse locks their gold and banknotes in a cupboard, then paces the room in a gloomy, pensive mood, glancing occasionally at the jeweller as he dries his clothes by the hearth.
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