"In that case, off we go!"
And lashing his horses, at the same time clicking with his tongue as do all drivers, he urged them into a canter.
Twenty seconds later, he pulled up, got down from his seat, and opened the door.
"Well ...?" I asked.
"Well, my country lad, we are at your destination, rue des Vieux-Augustins, Hôtel des Vieux-Augustins"
I raised my head, and there, beyond doubt, was the house. I then understood the driver's astonishment at seeing a great bumpkin of twenty, who seemed in no way unsound of limb, wanting to take a cab from the place du Palais-Royal to go to the rue des Vieux-Augustins. But as it would have been too absurd to avow that I did not know the distance between the two places, I said in a stout voice—
"All right—what is the fare?"
"Oh, you know the fare well enough, young fellow."
"If I knew it, I should not ask you."
"It is fifty sous, then."