One of the young women who entered the omnibus office was a brunette, with a retrousse nose, defiant eye, smiling mouth, teeth a little too far apart--but that is better than having false teeth; the other was a blonde, one of those blondes who have received a light touch of fire; but that color never yet prevented a woman from being pretty. If you doubt what I say, go to England or Scotland; auburn-haired women are in the majority there, and, as a general rule, they are very fascinating. The blonde grisette was pretty; but she had a sort of stupid expression which might at first sight pass for modesty; but on talking with her, you soon discovered that it was really stupidity; therein she formed a striking contrast to her companion, who had a bright, wide-awake manner. "Monsieur," said the brunette, addressing the clerk, "have you any seats for Belleville?" "You must take your turn, mademoiselle." "But will our turn be long in coming?" "Not very; a good many people have gone." In truth, the odor exhaled by the whiting stuffed into Mademoiselle Adelaide's basket, and the fear of having to travel with her, had led many persons to start for their destinations on foot. "Here, mesdemoiselles, take these two tickets; your turn will come." "Say, Laurette, suppose we walk?" said the pretty blonde. "Thanks, and tire ourselves out, and arrive all drenched--what fun! For my part, I don't like to sweat; it uncurls my hair. Mon Dieu! what a crowd! It's all the rage now; no one is willing to go on foot, and there aren't enough 'buses." "Belleville! Faubourg du Temple!" "Ah! here it is! here it is!" Further evolutions performed by the stout woman, the two boys, and the servant, but with no greater success; there were four vacant seats, but there were other numbers before theirs. The two girls also came forward. "There's no more room, except on top," said the conductor. "All right! we don't care; we'll go on top." "Pardon! ladies are not allowed there."--And the conductor added, with a wink: "It isn't my fault, you know; nothing would suit me better." "I believe you," said a man in a blouse; "if women were allowed to climb up there, there's lots of men who would pay to be conductors." "Why do they say that?" the blonde asked her companion; "what good would it do the conductors to have women ride in the three-sou seats?" "Oh! what a fool you are, Lucie! What! don't you understand?" "Why, no." "Oh! you make me weary." "Never mind; tell me why?" "My dear girl, it's a matter of the point of view; that's all." III THE YOUNG MAN FROM PLACE CADET An awkward, loutish youth entered the office. "Place Cadet, monsieur?" "This isn't the office; it's out on the boulevard, at the left, just at the corner." "Exceedingly obliged; will there be a seat?" "How do you expect us to know, when this isn't the office?" "Oh! of course; and that is where I must go for a number? Suppose you give me one, wouldn't that amount to the same thing?"