And Adolphe turned round the corner of the rue Richelieu and disappeared. It was indeed late; all lights were out, and only a few belated people were passing across the place du Palais-Royal. Although Adolphe had told it me, I did not in the least know my way, and I was extremely scared when I found myself alone. It must be confessed I felt very uneasy at being out in the streets of Paris at such a late hour; for I had heard heaps of stories of night attacks, robberies and assassinations, and, with my fifty sous in my pocket, I trembled at the thought of being plundered. A struggle went on in my mind between courage and fear. Fear won the day. I hailed a cab. The cab came up to me and I opened the door.
"Monsieur knows it is past midnight?" said the driver.
"Of course I know it," I replied; and I added to myself, "That is the very reason I am taking a cab."
"Where is the country squire going?"
"Rue des Vieux-Augustins, Hôtel des Vieux-Augustins."
"What?" said the driver.
I repeated it.
"Is monsieur quite sure he wants to go there?"
"The deuce I do!"