Cherami was then on the boulevard, where there is no lack of cafes; for one cannot walk thirty feet without passing one. The ex-Beau Arthur entered the establishment which had the most modern show-front, seated himself at a table, hung up his hat, laid his cane on the seat, and summoned the waiter with that resounding voice and in that arrogant tone which never fail to produce their effect on the waiters in a cafe. "What does monsieur wish?" "Radishes, sardines, and butter; then a beefsteak-chateaubriand, rare, with roquefort and a bottle of bordeaux. After that, we will see. Go!--That cane is certainly worth all that I have ordered," he said to himself; "yes, and I can safely add a cup of coffee and a _petit verre._ At all events, if they are not satisfied, I will do like Bilboquet in _Les Saltimbanques_, I will pledge my signature.--I am annoyed, all the same, to find that my young friend Gustave is in Spain. But is he really in Spain? That is what I must find out." Cherami had eaten his hors-d'oeuvre, and was about to attack his beefsteak-chateaubriand, when a short man, dressed with some pretension, with a stupid face and a bald head which seemed to beg for a wig, took his place at the table next to his, and sat down on the cane which Cherami had laid on the bench. The new-comer jumped to his feet, putting his hand to his posterior, and exclaiming: "Great heaven! what am I sitting on?" Cherami picked up his cane and stood it on the floor, between himself and his neighbor. "It's lucky for you that you didn't break it," he said; "for it would have cost you a pretty penny!" "I didn't do it purposely, monsieur." "No matter! if you had broken it, you'd have paid for it!" "And I hurt myself, too." "If it had been a blackthorn stick, it would have hurt you much more." The gentleman did not seem to be consoled by that reflection; he paid no attention to the cane, but was intent only upon rubbing the wounded part of his anatomy. Then he ordered a glass of grog, picked up a newspaper, and began to read, in evident ill-humor. But Cherami, who loved to converse, kept on talking while he ate.