"And, sure enough, before long came out an old servant who knows my father. I ran up to him and questioned him, and he said: 'That young girl has come here to enter the service of Mademoiselle Valentine de Mongarcin. She has been recommended to her, it seems; so it's all settled. As for the peasant who brought her here, he is going to rest a day or two and then go back to his province, unless he also prefers to find a place in Paris; but it seems that that is not to his taste.'--That is what I have learned." "Thanks! a thousand thanks, my boy! Hôtel de Mongarcin, Rue Saint-Honoré. I shall be seen frequently in that vicinity.--Sandis! I am sorry that she is only a lady's-maid. But, after all, Dulcinea del Toboso was not a princess; and whatever anyone may say, Don Quixote was a hearty blade, and as good a man as another.--Au revoir, my boy! I will treat you whenever you choose, you know." And Chevalier Passedix walked away by Rue des Mathurins, and the young bachelor by Place Cambray. After a day so well employed, it was natural enough that Master Hugonnet should visit his usual wine shop in the evening; and he did not fail to do so. Doubtless there was a large assemblage of patrons, and the events of the morning, as they gave rise to much talk, naturally resulted in a proportionate amount of drinking. The consequence was that Master Hugonnet returned home very late, completely drunk, and exceedingly susceptible to emotion, as he always was when in that condition. Ambroisine, who was sitting up for her father, was not at all surprised by his state, and she urged him to go up to bed. But Hugonnet had tears in his eyes, and he groaned mournfully as he stammered: "Poor Lambourdin--it breaks my heart! Just imagine, daughter--he was shamefully beaten this morning!" "I know it, father, and so do you, as it was you who beat him." "I! do you think so?--Oh! what a calamity!--my dear friend Lambourdin! Just imagine--he was beaten so--it's an outrage! Poor Lambourdin! my heart is heavy!--How could anyone beat such an honorable man?" "Why, it was you who beat him." "I! impossible!--When I heard of it, I wept with grief.--Poor Lambourdin! I will avenge him!" And Master Hugonnet would not consent to go to bed until he had wept freely over the fate of his friend Lambourdin, and had sworn again to avenge him. X THE PLACE AUX CHATS The Chevalier Passedix lived on Place aux Chats. You will not be sorry, reader, to know where that square was situated, for you would seek in vain for the slightest trace of it to-day. We will proceed to enlighten you upon that subject. In the year 1634, Place aux Chats was near Rue de la Ferronnerie, close by the Impasse des Bourdonnais, where Rue de la Limace had recently been cut through.