"You are wounded, and you are going out—when you need rest!"
"Oh! if my recovery is a little slower, that makes no difference. I want all those whom I love to be as happy as I am!"
"You are right, my friend. Go, but remember that I am waiting for you."
I took from my desk the ring that came from poor Annette; on it I rested all my hopes. I pressed Frédérique's hand, and we started. We took the first cab we saw, and I said to the driver:
"Montmartre, the public square. Take us there quickly, and you shall have five francs an hour."
We went like the wind, but the road seemed very long. At last we reached the square. I told the cabman to stop, and we all three alighted and turned to the left.
"That must be the place!" cried Ballangier, pointing to a small house of poor aspect, with a narrow green door.
"Stay in the square," I said to him, "and keep your eye on the house. If anyone comes out, run after him. You and I, Balloquet, will go in."
I knocked at the little green door; it was opened and we entered a narrow passageway, at the end of which was a small yard. A shrewish-looking woman, who was sitting in a dark corner, called out to us:
"Who do you want?"