"All right! let us go to see my uncle the old clothes man." Having made a selection from the second-hand garments, which the uncle had intrusted to his nephew with the greatest hesitation, the two clerks bent their steps toward Place aux Chats, and entered the Hôtel du Sanglier, where they were speedily ushered into the presence of the Gascon chevalier, who was discussing the second part of his repast. Bahuchet and Plumard bowed low to the newly made heir, like Turks before a pasha. Passedix bestowed a gracious smile upon them and pointed to two chairs. "Be seated, young men," he said; "with your permission, I will finish my dinner." "With our permission!--We are at monsieur le chevalier's service; and we are in no hurry--are we, Plumard?" "Not at all," replied Plumard, who, as courtesy demanded, had removed his cap; and he passed his hand from time to time over the piece of stocking, which he still hoped to detach. "Are you both employed in Maître Bourdinard's office?" "Yes, monsieur le chevalier; we are the two chief clerks." "Is it a good office?" "Excellent; the result is that we have too much work." "And you are not handsomely paid?" "In a solicitor's office! Bah! there is no grease except on the backs of the chairs."[A] [A] The chevalier asked: "Et l'on n'est _grassement_ payé?"--The adverb literally means _fatly_, hence _greasily_. "Will you drink a glass with me, young Basochians?" "It is a very great honor to us, monsieur le chevalier; we will drink as long as you choose." "That is what I call talking, sandis!--Goblets, Popelinette!--and go to the wine shop again and order some more bottles of different brands; meanwhile, we will finish these. Here, servant; take this other gold piece; and above all, do not haggle; nay, nay! to haggle is bourgeois, it is foolish! Say: 'It is for the noble and gallant Chevalier de Passedix,' and pay without a word." The old servant went away, and Bahuchet whispered to his comrade: "You hear--he doesn't haggle. He will pay for these duds whatever we ask." Passedix filled the goblets; the two clerks respectfully touched the chevalier's with theirs, and he exclaimed as he looked at Plumard: "Why, my poor boy! you don't seem to be in very good condition!" "How so, seigneur chevalier?" rejoined the clerk, drawing himself up. "Because I see that you have a plaster on your head, such as they put on sick dogs." Plumard turned purple, while Bahuchet made haste to say: "That's nothing, he has a cold in his head, and it's a blister he's trying.--But while monsieur le chevalier is finishing his repast, we might show him the superb costume we have brought.--Open your bundle, Plumard." "You are right, little clerks; show me the clothes." First of all, Plumard took from the bundle a pair of orange silk knee-breeches, slashed with lemon-colored satin. Passedix was overjoyed with the short-clothes; he took them in his hand, examined them closely, and cried: