"La Villette! all aboard for La Villette!"
All those who were bound for that destination hurried from the office, and in the confusion jostled the youth who wished to go to Place Cadet, and who persisted in remaining in the office where he had no business, looking at everybody as if he were disposed to weep.
"Why do you stay here, monsieur," inquired Mademoiselle Laurette, "when they told you to go to the office on Boulevard Saint-Denis?"
"I don't know Boulevard Saint-Denis, mademoiselle; and I am afraid of losing my way."
"The trouble is that you ought not to have been let go out alone; some parents are very imprudent! I'll tell you what you ought to do: go to one of the messengers over by Porte Saint-Martin; take his arm and give him ten sous, and he'll take you to Place Cadet; he'll carry you even, if you're tired."
"Ten sous! oh! that's too much. You're not going to Place Cadet, are you, mademoiselle?"
"Oh! no, monsieur; we're going to the country."
"Ah! do the omnibuses take people to the country too?"
"They take you everywhere, monsieur."
"Really! I have such a longing to see the sea; do the omnibuses give transfer checks for the seashore?"