all. At the Hotel-de-Ville.

"Yes, indeed. At the Petit Bourbon!"

"It was at the Hotel-de-Ville," retorted Oudarde sharply, "and Dr.
Scourable addressed them a harangue in Latin, which pleased them
greatly. My husband, who is sworn bookseller told me."

"It was at the Petit Bourbon," replied Gervaise, with no less spirit,
"and this is what monsieur the cardinal's procurator presented to them:
twelve double quarts of hippocras, white, claret, and red; twenty-four
boxes of double Lyons marchpane, gilded; as many torches, worth two
livres a piece; and six demi-queues* of Beaune wine, white and claret,
the best that could be found. I have it from my husband, who is a
cinquantenier**, at the Parloir-aux Bourgeois, and who was this morning
comparing the Flemish ambassadors with those of Prester John and the
Emperor of Trebizond, who came from Mesopotamia to Paris, under the last
king, and who wore rings in their ears."

* A Queue was a cask which held a hogshead and a half.

** A captain of fifty men.

"So true is it that they supped at the Hotel-de-Ville," replied Oudarde
but little affected by this catalogue, "that such a triumph of viands
and comfits has never been seen."

"I tell you that they were served by Le Sec, sergeant of the city, at
the Hotel du Petit-Bourbon, and that that is where you are mistaken."

"At the Hotel-de-Ville, I tell you!"

"At the Petit-Bourbon, my dear! and they had illuminated with magic
glasses the word hope, which is written on the grand portal."

"At the Hotel-de-Ville! At the Hotel-de-Ville! And Husson-le-Voir played
the flute!"

"I tell you, no!"

"I tell you, yes!"

"I say, no!"

Plump and worthy Oudarde was preparing to retort, and the quarrel might,
perhaps, have proceeded to a pulling of caps, had not Mahiette suddenly
exclaimed,--"Look at those people assembled yonder at the end of the
bridge! There is something in their midst that they are looking at!"

"In sooth," said Gervaise, "I hear the sounds of a tambourine. I believe
'tis the little Esmeralda, who plays her mummeries with her goat. Eh,
be quick, Mahiette! redouble your pace and drag along your boy. You
are come hither to visit the curiosities of Paris. You saw the Flemings
yesterday; you must see the gypsy to-day."

"The gypsy!" said Mahiette, suddenly retracing her steps, and clasping
her son's arm forcibly. "God preserve me from it! She would steal my
child from me! Come, Eustache!"

A