"As he has decamped, you are no longer in any danger. But, by Roland, I do not bid him adieu! If he is still in Paris, I will find him, and then it will be war to the death between us!--But, with your permission, I will at once install myself, or rather reinstall myself, in the first floor lodging. I will take my repast there.--By the way, Dame Cadichard, I expect a very agreeable young man--very small, but very agreeable for his size. He is a clerk in my solicitor's office; and as I happened to mention before him my desire to replenish my wardrobe entirely, and as quickly as possible, he told me that he had a friend who knew a second-hand dealer amply supplied with clothes of the latest cut. He is to bring him to me here." "Never fear, monsieur le chevalier, I will send him up to you." "To the first floor, Dame Cadichard. Don't forget that I have come down. I shall go up again some day, perhaps; it is not safe to swear to anything." "Oh! Monsieur de Passedix!" "But that worries me very little.--Six thousand livres a year! Sandis! I used to make conquests galore, but now I shall be overwhelmed with them!" The chevalier resumed possession of the apartment on the first floor; he stretched himself out luxuriously in an enormous easy-chair that was almost suitable for a bed, and glanced about the room, saying to himself: "Ah! Monsieur de Carvajal, so I am occupying your place now!--Who knows? perhaps you would be very happy now to live in a little room under the eaves; for in this world, when one goes up, we frequently see others come down, and _vice versa_.--Oh! but I will find this mysterious Spaniard! From all I have been able to judge, he knows that little Miretta; I believe him to be my rival with the little brunette. A grandee of Spain, in love with a chambermaid--that is rather extraordinary! But, after all, I sigh for that girl, and I am the equal of the grandest of Spanish grandees." Popelinette returned with two waiters from the wine shop, bringing dishes and bottles. In a short time, a dinner fit for Gargantua was spread before Passedix; but the newly made heir seemed not at all alarmed when he saw the contents of the dishes that were served him; and from the way in which he attacked them one might fairly presume that he would reach the end of them. Passedix had already put away half of his repast, and was attacking the second half, when Popelinette, the old servant, who had become as courteous as her mistress, came in with repeated reverences and informed him that Monsieur Bahuchet and his comrade, Monsieur Plumard, had arrived, and wished to speak with him. "Very good! I know what they are here for!" cried Passedix; "they have brought new clothes, in the latest style.--Usher these young men into my presence; I will choose such things as seem worthy of my person, and it will not prevent my finishing my dinner!"