He stepped into a wine-shop, and asked for a bottle of wine; as he drank it he said to himself: "How the deuce am I to see Miss Carmen? She is in the salon receiving her guests. Of course, she won't come into the anteroom to get a billet doux, but if the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain, which means, that if Miss Carmen won't come to me in the anteroom, I must go to her!"
At this moment a Chasseur d'Afrique entered the wine-shop.
"Will you have the kindness to tell me," he asked, of the shop-keeper, "where I shall find the hôtel of a rich banker about here? Laisangy, I think, is the name."
"Almost opposite—where all those carriages stand."
"Ah! thanks!" And as the soldier turned round he saw Coucon.
The recognition was mutual, and the two former companions fell into each other's arms.
"Galaret!" cried Coucon.
"Yes. And now let us have a glass."
"Can't stop, have a commission to perform!"
Nevertheless, Coucon did stop to drink a little, and to gossip. "When did you come to Paris?" he asked.