In France (to baffle thieves and murderers) br A journey takes two days of passport work br At least. The plan's sometimes a tedious one, br But bears its fruit. Because, the other day, br In passing by the Morgue, we saw a man br (The thing is common, and we never should br Have known of it, only we passed that way) br Who had been stabbed and tumbled in the Seine, br Where he had stayed some days. The face was black, br And, like a negro's, swollen; all the flesh br Had furred, and broken into a green mould. br Now, very likely, he who did the job br Was standing among those who stood with us, br To look upon the corpse. You fancy him— br Smoking an early pipe, and watching, as br An artist, the effect of his last work. br This always if it had not struck him that br 'Twere best to leave while yet the body took br Its crust of rot beneath the Seine. It may: br But, if it did not, he can now remain br Without much fear. Only, if he should want br To travel, and have not his passport yet, br (Deep dogs these French police!) he may be caught. br Therefore you see (lest, being murderers, br We should not have the sense to go before br The thing were known, or to stay afterwards) br There is good reason why—having resolved br To start for Belgium—we were kept three days br To learn about the passports first, then do br As we had learned. This notwithstanding, in br The fullness of the time 'tis come to pass.